Extremes

In his article "An island of wild extremes" (August 19), Prof. V. Mallia-Milanes penned, in a most eloquent and gentlemanly way, all the feelings of frustration and bewilderment of the residents of Zabbar Road and Hompesch Road, at the demise of the beautiful trees that once adorned these roads.

The resurfacing of these roads came at a heavy price - the loss of all those trees - and nobody lifted a finger in disapproval. There had been no consultation whatsoever by the respective councils.

Now go to the Sliema and St Julian's promenades. These have been embellished, and trees planted, and these are proper trees, not like those horrible puny palm trees just before you enter Cospicua.

These look like under-nourished foot-soldiers smack in the middle of narrow pavements.

What a ghastly sight! Why not plant real trees here? Palm trees may look great in Hawaii but not here! It's an island of wild extremes all right!

Prof. Mallia-Milanes pointed out how Paris city council was going about upgrading the Latin quarter of the city and the pains they're taking to minimise disruption, meet deadlines and above all else not damage or impair the trees and greenery.

What a contrast! Ah, yes, but these people are proud of their work and their country, whereas here, where politics mean everything except mani pulite, nothing matters but shooting every bird that flies, firing noisy petards during village carnivals, called festas, ear-deafening music from passing cars, trucks and buses smoking like Mount Etna and politicians posing with foreign dignitaries telling them that we're the cat's whiskers.