Julia Farrugia Portelli To Angry Power Cut Victims: ‘Read A Book’
Malta’s Social Wellbeing Minister had a unique bit of advice for anyone suffering from a heatwave without basic necessities like electricity to stave off the intense temperatures: read a book.
As the country faces days without power, with some localities on their sixth day straight amid temperatures hitting 40c, Julia Farrugia Portelli shared a snap of her visiting the Mtarfa library, praising it for its selection of the latest books.
However, the timing of the literary post didn’t land well, with heated and sweaty comments from voters and constituents quickly piling up.
“While you are out here posing for photos, the majority of the Maltese people are tired of your attitude,” one man said, before breaking down what he and other Maltese families have been going through this week, coming home from a day of work to find the power grid is out… again.
“When will action be taken so we can live decent lives?”
Farrugia Portelli jumped into the comments section herself, replying with: “Like you, I was without electricity. I understand this isn’t a comfortable situation. We read a book until it comes back.”
Needless to say, people were not happy with that kind of reply from a Cabinet Minister, someone meant to be in control of the country and leading it… not taking a back seat and awaiting problems to be solved.
“Let me tell you, if you’re going to choose a book choose the Bible because you have three days to finish it. And don’t even bet on it – there’s a good chance the power still hasn’t returned by then…” said one person sarcastically.
“It shows you haven’t spent three days and nights without electricity… and if it does return, it’s just back for 15 or 30 mins before disappearing for 12 hours…” said another.
One person took Farrugia Portelli’s comment to heart and broke down just how out of place it was.
“Go tell that to the elderly who spent hours locked in their rooms in the heat. Go tell that to those that have medicine in the fridge and depend on that medicine. Go tell that to the shop owners and supermarkets throwing away thousands of euro worth of food. Go tell that to the owners of aquarium’s full of dear fish who have now died,” they said.
“You truly have no sense of compassion.”
“It’s true that we need to read more, maybe one day the people will open their mind and become educated. But this is not the solution to give so people are patient until the electricity returns due to your failure and the failure of your friends.”
“To tell us to read a book isn’t a good answer,” ended someone else. “Your answer should be that you are taking action so all of this is solved, once and for all.”
Check out the full exchange below:
How many books have you read during this Week From Hell in Malta?
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