On the Dot...

St Anne Street in Floriana has become an accident magnet; perhaps even more so because of the combination of excessive speeding, traffic lights and non-use of the subways for obvious reasons. Something needs to be done urgently to remedy the situation.

Stamp Duty

The Malta Europa stamp to the value of 16 cents has garnered the top prize from 44 competing entities. This was no mean feat, considering the stiff competition it had to face when submitted to the PostEurop contest. Photographer Gino Theuma, and graphic artist Roberta Zahra, have placed Malta once again on the map - literally and figuratively.

Panda Eyes

Ironically, four police vehicles - two cars and two vans - did not pass their VRT tests. This probably means that they were unroadworthy when they were still being driven in the line of duty. One wonders whether wardens or traffic policemen would have fined the drivers of any other vehicles, in a similar situation, even if they said they were on their way to take the test.

Boxed Out

Vandals - or is it pyromaniacs? - are going around the peripheral streets of Valletta, burning down rubbish skips. Targets have included the skip near the Auberge de Baviere and the Lower Barrakka gardens, where a number of vehicles are parked. Scared about the risk of possible explosions, and upset about this, residents find themselves trying to battle the flames with bucketfuls of water.

Block Voted

Public conveniences do not live up to their name. They are inconveniently closed to the public before 8 p.m., despite the fact that balmy nights make evening walks still pleasurable. This is a pity, for people will have no alternative but to cut their outings short, if they are not inclined to pollute the surroundings.

Patriotism Amok?

Whoever is responsible for the weather report on Melita Cable is too patriotic, perhaps, overplaying somewhat the "sunny Malta" bit - the weather forecast on Wednesday evening read "Sunny and fine overnight". Were they, perhaps, referring to Lapland?

Card Boards

As Christmas approaches, mounds of cardboard and other recyclable materials are left in the streets by vendors, for collection by scammels. This is indeed a pity, for when it gets mixed up with ordinary household rubbish, it is doubly difficult and undoubtedly more expensive to recycle. It tends to combine into a soggy mass, oozing vile-smelling liquid.

Animal Wrongs

Terrapins are still being sold at the Valletta flea market in tiny plastic bags. Unweaned puppies are still being offered at City Gate. The stray cats and pigeon colonies are still burgeoning in the capital, fed by countless people armed with bags full of scraps. There is a warped idea about what animal welfare is, going around, and the sooner it is set to rights, the better.

Let's Get Physical

Several classes of children in state schools are only getting one PE lesson a fortnight because the timetable of the peripatetic teachers does not allow for more. This has come to pass because the student population has increased, and because the complement of recently graduated physical education teachers has not been employed as such, but has been given, for the most part, alternative employment.

Loads of Rubbish

Garbage collection in parts of Hamrun is around the time schools close for the day. As a result, a number of people leave their rubbish out earlier than the stipulated half hour, i.e. on their way to collecting their children. Traffic jams involving collection trucks and school mini-vans, as well as other vehicles, moreover, occur regularly.

Collection Boxes

Several charities include bank account numbers in their appeals for cash. Obviously some people opt for what is to them the easiest way of giving their donation. However, when payment is made by means of paper money, through an ATM, with the donor's details written on the back of the envelope, and a note included in the space for the Tellergram, no confirmation of the receipt is made, by the bank, or by the charity to which the money would eventually have been passed. This does not encourage people to repeat their gesture.