Senior citizen gets an apology after being denied a seat at Vision 2050 cube

Imagine, if you will, the scene at the bustling Republic Street in Valletta. The sun is beating down on the historic cobblestones, tourists and locals alike are milling about, and in the midst of it all, a senior citizen stands, denied a seat at the futuristic Vision 2050 cube. This wasn’t just any seat; it was a symbol of our collective future, and this senior citizen felt denied a place in it.

The Vision 2050 cube, a brainchild of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, is meant to be a beacon of our island’s technological and societal progress. It’s a place where locals and tourists alike can interact with cutting-edge technology, learn about Malta’s future, and even take a virtual reality tour of our island in 2050. But for 75-year-old Joseph Vella, it was a place where he was made to feel unwelcome.

Vella, a retired teacher from Birkirkara, visited the cube last week, eager to see what the future holds. But when he tried to sit down to watch the VR presentation, he was told that the seats were only for those participating in the interactive games. “I just wanted to sit down and rest my legs,” Vella told Hot Malta. “I didn’t want to play any games. I just wanted to see what they had to show.”

Vella’s experience sparked a backlash on social media, with many criticising the cube’s policy. The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) responded swiftly, issuing a public apology to Vella and announcing a review of the cube’s seating policy.

“We apologise unreservedly to Mr. Vella and to anyone else who may have felt unwelcome at the Vision 2050 cube,” said Dr. Alexiei Dingli, CEO of MCST. “Our intention was never to exclude anyone, especially our senior citizens who have contributed so much to our society. We will be reviewing our policy to ensure that everyone feels welcome and comfortable at the cube.”

Vella accepted the apology, saying, “I’m just glad that something good has come out of this. I hope that the cube will indeed become a place for everyone, regardless of age or ability.”

Vella’s experience has sparked a conversation about accessibility and inclusion in Malta’s public spaces. From our historical sites to our futuristic installations, there’s a growing recognition that our spaces should be welcoming to all.

Dr. Maria Attard, a disability rights activist, welcomed the MCST’s apology and policy review. “This is a step in the right direction,” she said. “But it’s also an opportunity for us to have a broader conversation about accessibility and inclusion in Malta. We need to ensure that our public spaces, both old and new, are welcoming and accessible to everyone.”

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