No capital for rats

WasteServ Malta Ltd fully agrees with the points brought up by Joseph Bonnici in his letter (June 1) and appreciates the concern for the unprecedented situation experienced in Xaghra in the last weeks, that has come all the way from Rhode Island, US. In this regard, Mr Bonnici's concerns deserve a reply.

Firstly, WasteServ would like to assure Mr Bonnici together with all the residents of Xaghra and all those who have the well-being of Xaghra at heart that, contrary to what is being stated in the opening of this letter, Xaghra is far from "infested with ex-Qortin rats" and the claim that "rats have moved underground" is untrue.

The thorough rodent control programme did not commence when the landfill at Qortin was closed as implied by Mr Bonnici "at a snap of a finger", taking the vast food menu away from the rats and making them migrate to Xaghra. This intensive programme commenced in September 2003 when the Qortin site was surveyed prior to rat control efforts followed by an extensive "blitz" treatment.

As WasteServ had foreseen, this initial stage of the rodent control programme successfully destroyed a substantial number of rodents at one go and in one baiting session. The use of such a bait eliminated the largest possible number of rats and this led to what was to become a gradual intensified process towards the depletion of rodent populations. In fact, regular baiting routines followed to sustain the eradication programme. In so doing, rodents were not given a chance to re-establish colonies to previous population levels.

Contrary to Mr Bonnici's claims, the situation is definitely in control and far from an "out of sight out of mind" situation. WasteServ considers the "blitz" treatments to destroy the substantial number of rats as successful and throughout these past few weeks this "blitz" is leading to a complete containment of this problem. Moreover, WasteServ will also keep monitoring any rodent activity that may take place in Xaghra in order to avoid what Mr Bonnici refers to as the "furbishing of new colonies underground".

WasteServ would like to remind Mr Bonnici that its efforts are directed towards creating sustainable waste management facilities and the closure of the uncontrolled dumps at Qortin, Maghtab and Wied Fulija is a step in the right direction.

The rat invasion was undoubtedly an unpleasant experience for Xaghra residents, however it must be said that with the closure of Qortin, Xaghra and all Gozitan residents have finally and once and for all got rid of the negative impacts of an uncontrolled dump which had been in operation for 36 years. The Qortin dump has now been finally closed and will be rehabilitated in line with the government's commitment to reduce this potential human health hazard and its environmental impacts.

The concern justly expressed by Mr Bonnici is in line with the "endless human analysis and philosophising" referred to in his article that, albeit justified, only leads to further speculation and unnecessary concern.

In this regard, WasteServ would like to assure Mr Bonnici and all those rightly concerned that the constant joint effort with the public service entities and private contractors currently in place is significantly amplifying the rodent control treatment so as to ensure that the rodent population is continuously curtailed while maintaining on-going control. The much awaited closure of Qortin and the mitigation measures being taken as part of the rehabilitation are a step towards finally putting an end to such nuisances in the interest of public health and safety.