r/malta

EDIT: I realised I didn’t actually describe the harassment itself in my original post, which has led to some people making assumptions about what happened. I’ve added the details below for clarity.

For context, this is what actually happened: The man repeatedly followed me around the pool, came extremely close to me while making sexually suggestive facial expressions, and continued despite me repeatedly and explicitly telling him to “leave me alone,” “keep your distance,” and “respect my personal space.” Other festivalgoers witnessed what was happening, and at one point another couple positioned themselves between us and shouted at him that he was not to touch me. I became visibly distressed and was crying when I reported him to security immediately afterwards, while he was still there.

I’m posting this because I think people attending festivals deserve to know how incidents of sexual harassment are handled when something actually happens at this festival.

I attended Glitch Festival in Malta last week. On day one, I was sexually harassed by a man in the swimming pool, in front of other people.

What happened afterwards has honestly left me almost as disturbed as the incident itself.

Security did not witness what happened despite being responsible for monitoring the area. When the man was confronted, he simply acted as though he was just chilling there and didn’t understand what was going on. I was crying and visibly distressed, and also had witnesses who stood up for me. No action was taken by security. I ended up having to leave for my own safety, while the man got to continue chilling in the pool.

I reported the incident to Glitch afterwards and asked them to review the CCTV footage. I was then told that the footage was of poor quality / that the camera angle did not clearly capture what happened.

This raises a pretty obvious question: what is the purpose of CCTV and security at a large festival if neither can actually document or intervene when someone is sexually harassed in a public area?

I’m particularly disturbed by the fact that someone can behave like this at a festival and apparently face no meaningful consequences.

I have been in contact with Glitch about what happened, but I do not feel that the handling of the situation reflects the seriousness of the incident. I am now taking steps to report what happened to the Maltese police.

I’m sharing this publicly because I don’t want this to simply disappear into a private complaint.

Festivals promote themselves as safe, inclusive spaces. That has to mean more than having security guards and CCTV cameras physically present. There needs to be an effective system for protecting festival goers, responding to reports of sexual harassment and holding perpetrators accountable.

I also want other people who attended Glitch to know about this. If anyone witnessed the incident, experienced something similar at the festival, or has experience with how Glitch handles reports like this, I would really appreciate hearing from you.

Also where to buy cheaper than online locally? Or is it same price in any electronics?

Does the Maltese government have a public list of all the private entities all it's ministries, agencies and entities work with or obtain services from.

It would be democratic to be able to identify whether an organisation like Palantir is being used or considered.

Just a message of appreciation to a bolt driver today who was just exceptional. I had no data coverage on my phone when I got to mdina so I could not tip him. I tried when I got back to my hotel but the period had expired. If you happen to read this, you will remember the ride today. my daughter was feeling unwell and you showed incredible kindness and understanding. I would love to tip you if you somehow see this message. Bolt support were unable to help

I’ve noticed that in some areas of Malta, rubbish bags are constantly left outside buildings because there doesn’t seem to be an adequate waste disposal system. During the summer, the smell can be absolutely awful, and there are often loads of flies and cockroaches around the entrances and streets. It doesn’t make things better that people dump waste on wrong days, and only specific trash is taken each day
Is this common complaint? It just seems like there should be a better way of handling waste, especially in this heat.

Hi, I met a Maltese and they shared a saying, meaning “fuck or get fucked” something like that, I want to remember how to pronounce the saying? Is this a common saying? Does anyone know what I’m thinking of?

What is going on? I'm so confused. I go to this Lidl 3 times a week and every time I go there, there is a different staff there 😅🤓 so many new faces that comes and goes.

My guess is that the white haired lady keeps scaring everyone off as she can be mean and she keeps yelling at customers sometimes?

Or do they just hire people for a day or something? 😄

I'm taking the ferry over to Malta with a large piece of luggage that's also fragile (bout 92 cm wide and long - like the size of an older computer tower). I can't seem to find any good way of doing this.

Has anyone taken the ferry from Pozzallo and is the luggage area very secure?

Hi there, I lost my job this month, my bf also broke up with me so I need to find another job and a room or studio apartment in 2 months, I have experience in marketing and igaming. I’m pretty much alone in this island would anyone be able to help me out even if it’s just guidance? I came here from Portugal to save money and then go to college, but it all seems to be crumbling

Hi everyone! I’m coming to Malta in September and I’m thinking of getting a tattoo while I’m there. Can anyone recommend a talented tattoo artist who’s reasonably priced? I’m looking for good quality without paying crazy prices. Thanks!

My husband and I have a four-month-old who is due to start childcare in October, when she’ll be around six months old.

Before she was born, I thought six months was a reasonable time to start childcare (considering many babies start around four months). But now that she’s here, we are questioning whether this is actually what we want for our family. Being away from our daughter 9 hours a day and having less than two hours quality time with her in the evening before her bedtime during the week.

We own two properties, one in Malta and one in Gozo. We’re considering selling the Malta property and moving back to Gozo. This would allow us to fully repay the remaining loan on the Gozo property and allow one of us to become a stay-at-home parent, meaning we could keep our daughter at home with us until she starts school.

The other side of the decision is that we’d be giving up a significant property investment and potentially making it harder financially to have another child.

So, purely as a parent: if you were in our position and had the opportunity to spend your child’s first few years at home with them, would you take it?

Or, given the Maltese property market and the financial security an additional property could provide for your child’s future, would you choose to keep the investment and continue working?

I’m not looking to debate the pros and cons of childcare centres — I’m specifically interested in what other parents would personally choose if they had this financial option.

Please only answer if you’re a parent. I’d really appreciate hearing what you would do and why.

The rapid decline of service industry workers' ability to speak Maltese is probably one of the more infuriating developments in public transport & leisure over the past decade. I hate having to speak English all the time, and I say this as someone who has worked as an English teacher. It doesn't even help that some of these people also have poor English skills, so the interaction just turns into a point-and-show. I can't count the number of times when a bus driver not only barely spoke English, but also didn't know if their bus stopped in a certain town, or a waiter asked me to speak in English even though they worked in a non-tourist area. A total catastrophe that needs to be worked on. TCNs shouldn't even be able to get visas for unskilled labour.

I run to catch a bus, can't see destination.

Me : Where is the bus going?

Driver : St Julian's

*Deboards bus, See's it's headed to Valletta*

Bus serjeta Talinja?

I’ve noticed that some locals seem less willing to interact with Asian people, particularly Asians with darker or brown skin. I’m wondering if this is something others have noticed as well, or if it could simply be my perception based on a few experiences. Has anyone else observed this? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts and experiences.