On the Dot...

Friday, April 4 was not exactly a pleasant day for a number of fifth formers - those who were sitting for their Sec O Level English Listening Comprehension Examinations in Room 1 of Maria Regina Junior Lyceum. The reading of the text left much to be desired and this apart from affecting the students' grades, also affected them psychologically. Will they get redress in the form of a re-sit?

Word Perfect

By now it must be obvious to HSBC's management that the majority of people who still queue up inside the bank, rather than making use of an automatic teller machine, are those whose transactions are not run-of-the-mill, and the few who still believe in the personal touch. Therefore, one cannot understand how only two cashiers are allowed to wait upon a queue of 15 people, on a Friday, in a particular branch.

Fast track

An Enemalta bowser was on Friday afternoon seen zig-zagging from one lane to another and overtaking light vehicles as it sped - literally - along Tal-Barrani Road. Would the corporation please look into the matter?

Ship Shape

Easter school holidays are in the offing, and still, school mini-van drivers have not been issued with instructions about how to care for their charges. It is not the first time that children are seen jumping out of vans at traffic intersections; the slower ones are even insulted by the driver and asked to make haste, especially if he is running late. Some drivers still go too fast for safety's sake and periodic checks must be made with regard to overloading of vehicles.

Hot Air

The media and communications officer of Enemalta states adamantly that the new system of order-placing facilitates the delivery of gas cylinders to private residences. Yet, this remains not the case at all. There are still areas which, despite repeated phone calls, the delivery man will not include in his beat, meaning that people have to ask family members to purchase one for them.

Warmer Welcome

The Emigrants' Commission is making use of a number of buildings owned by the Catholic Action to accommodate a number of refugees. Some private parties have taken this welcome initiative too. Yet, when one sees the number of buildings standing empty, one cannot but wish for voluntary work which would render them habitable for such a worthy cause.

Faster Food

It is the policy in most schools to disallow the replacement of lunches with snack packets, or yoghurts and fruit juices containing sucrose. However, certain tuck shops still sell sweetmeats galore, and fund-raising activities often feature nutritional disasters rather than their healthier alternatives. Children are still receiving mixed messages.

Well-Worn

Self-styled decency police, with or without the blessing of the local parish authorities, take it upon themselves to tick off anyone who they think is not wearing clothes that are decent enough for church services. This is all to the good; however, sometimes these people are so lacking in tact that the people they approach consider it an affront.

Post Haste

How many times are the bags of postmen weighed and compared to their body weights, before they set out on their daily rounds? Up to last week, they were loaded with extra papers, some of which had not even been franked or stamped, owing to the electoral campaign. It is unfair on these workers to have to lug about promotional material that, in many cases, will be chucked unread into garbage bins, with the alternative being their having to go back for a new batch at intervals.

Towering Problems

San Tumas Tower is being restored, at the cost of Lm75,000, for deterioration obtaining in 389 years. One hopes that this tower, and other restored monuments such as Portes des Bombes, will be given some kind of surface protection to shield them from smog and weathering.