On the Dot...

The trees on the front at Balluta Bay have all been stripped to bare trunks. Hopefully, they will some day produce verdant foliage again, unless the shock to their systems has been too great. Meanwhile, however, they stand doubly bare beside midget trees that have been festooned with lights.

Set Square

The person who decided to open the Floriana subways again must have been a very optimistic one, seeing that we are in the middle of an electoral campaign. Many parties and meetings are held for this occasion, and since the area is probably not included in the beat of wardens and policemen, the area is as dirty as it ever was.

Water Way

A pond, which is probably the remnants of a reservoir a little way off on the other side of the road from the Salone Delle Rose, in Gudja Road, Tarxien, would be a scenic spot if it were dredged and the area cleared of the rubbish that has accumulated over the years. As it is, the place is dangerous, and apart from attracting mosquitoes and vermin, it looks extremely forsaken.

Stale Mates

There is a backlog when it comes to progressions in salary grades and promotions in the public service. One would have thought that the speed at which these were seen to would be in direct proportion to the countdown to the general election. So far, however, any hopes of advancement of those who have worked hard for their positions remain so much pie in the sky.

Marching On

Much has been said about selfish car dealers who hog parking space for their many vehicles along residential roads, thus depriving residents of parking room. The same may be said, however, for the administrations of some schools, where there is ready access to schoolyards from the outside, for school vans and private hire buses as well. However, vehicles are not allowed into the school premises, blocking the roads and causing raised tempers as they park on pavements, nose to tail with residents' vehicles and generally creating noise and inconvenience.

Sharp Thinking

The national agency against substance abuse, sedqa, has issued guidelines for educators with regards to sharps or needle-stick injuries. Local councils have been supplied with forceps and pocketsize disposal bins for the collection of used syringes found lying about are available from health centres. It would be infinitely better, however, were each school to have its own set, because in some cases, the local council offices and health centres are too far away to drive to when the need arises.

Home Thoughts

Last Tuesday, the Lourdes Volunteers Association organised an aux flambeaux celebration at our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, in St Julian's. This was held on the occasion of the feast of the Annunciation and to commemorate the apparitions at Lourdes. The congregation, for the duration of the celebration, felt transported into heaven. It is hoped that other parishes will emulate this example and organise other national celebrations of the type, especially for peace.

A Good Sign

The first section of a Maltese sign language dictionary, subtitled "Animals", has been produced in print and on CD-ROM. This laudable enterprise is the result of cooperation between the Foundation of Language Studies of the Institute of Linguistics of the University of Malta and the Association for the Deaf. One hopes that other sections will follow soon.

Down Hill

The area around St Philip's Hospital is in a general state of neglect. This contrasts starkly with the way the gardens of the hospital are nurtured. Something should be done by those in authority to remedy the situation.

Streetwise

The Malta Transport Authority has signed an agreement with five local councils, authorising them to carry out works on streets and roads that would normally have fallen under the jurisdiction of the central government. No doubt, people who do not live in Marsaxlokk, Mgarr, Rabat, St Paul's Bay and Zejtun are bemoaning the fact that their own local councils were not in on this. However, this agreement will soon involve 15 other councils; and who better than they to ascertain priorities?

Strip Teasing

Wherever there is a raised strip cutting off the residents' parking zone from the main street, the chances are that the residents will appreciate it. This is not only because it provides them with a safe haven, but also because it automatically becomes their personal depot for piling up garbage bags awaiting rubbish collection. These people think it is a dishonour to keep one's own rubbish by one's door. Stray animals, on the other hand, like the idea because they can scavenge undisturbed.

Health matters

On March 19, the people having outpatients appointments at St Luke's Hospital, who were at the bus terminus at 7.15 a.m., were left stranded. The dispatcher told them that it being a public holiday, service would resume at 9.15 a.m., in time for the 10 a.m. visiting hours. He arrogantly suggested they either walk the distance, or take a taxi, or phone home for a lift.