Bouncers = Safety? Hmm...

It is a more serious matter that we write about today.

For the umpteenth time, The Times has published an article dealing with yet another mishap. We've read about bouncers too many times... and not once that puts them in a positive light. This one just takes the biscuit.

Paceville is not quite our favourite spot. But you know how it works, sometimes you just have to go - whether that's because your friends are going or because you've exhausted all other possibilities is beside the point.

And we're not here to play the pious. Most bouncers are not just as bad as many depict them - they're worse. In fact, given the high percentage of the 'bad' ones, it would seem that that's actually a prerequisite. You know, that way the club owners can sit pretty having their Martinis, while the bouncers do all the dirty work.

Well, the problem arises when they take their "freedom" to an extreme. Now tell us, and be honest please. How many times were you refused entrance in a club because "mimli gbin, sib x'imkien iehor" (it's full mate, look elsewhere) and while you walk away you see them allowing some people in? ...and, to infuriate you more, those being let in would generally be underaged "tough" looking midgets, with their equally underaged girlfriends? ("Bullies will one day scratch my back" kind of thing!)

The owners get all hot under the collar when the government says something about raising the age bar. Well, if they don't want that then they should first stop the 13/14-year-olds from entering their clubs. Yet, we do believe that in the most of cases they wouldn't even know about such kids being in their clubs. It's not them who let them in, it's their big guys at the door. But isn't that the same thing?

Sometimes you find yourself in a club thinking you're in a playground, with more kids around you than people your age.

In the same article, the victims also said that The Police did nothing to get the culprits. They accused the police of being scared of such people. Do you believe them?

We do. Why? Plenty of examples we witnessed in PV are quite indicative, really. Last new Year we ended up there (never again!) At around 5a.m. we called a cab and we waited for it next to BurgerKing. While there we saw a bouncer, working for a club opposite BurgerKing, who started calling what seemed to be his girlfriend "ja qahba, itlaq l'hemm" (you bitch, scram)... She pleaded with him. His reaction? He threw 2 chairs at her. The girl started crying (and screaming)... A group of 4 policemen happened to be passing by and... well, they were passing by. They saw everything. They walked away.

You'll tell us "they were an exception". No, they're not. And you know it. Bouncers seem to be running the place, untouched. Some of them can do whatever they please. It sounds like something taken out of The Godfather, but sadly we know it's not.

So what do we do? More police roaming about in Paceville, to save us from all evil? No, certainly not.

What we need is that the laws we already  have start being enforced. And the Maltese must also start expecting certain standards. Making do with everything is simply not doable - or a pitiable system is what we get in turn! Maltese, speak up.

...and if what The Times is reporting is true - "From January 31 security staff in bars and clubs will have to be in possession of a new ilcence. To qualify for the licence, they will have to prove that they have served for five years in the police, armed forces or prison services, or for an accumulated period of five years as a pivate guard." - then it's high time we started praying for a miraculous intervention.

Prison guards making sure everyone is safe in Paceville? As safe as the prisoners seem to be in Corradino? NO THANKS.