Horses' right to shelter

Mary Anastasi (Horse Shelters, August 6) suggested that "a group of four or five karozzini owners should get together and provide their own shelters".

With our present bureaucracy this would not be possible. Permits are required from various quarters for any form of structure. The planning and transport authorities, the ministry and the Valletta local council have taken five years to agree on erecting a temporary canopy. This "permit" came through on June 28. The karozzini owners are not allowed to put up a shelter themselves that has not been authorised by the above authorities. To date nothing has been done.

Tax payers have been paying for five years of discussion. And on such an urgent issue.

The karozzini are undoubtedly a much loved tourist attraction and the authorities have used this to their advantage in promotional material. Yet the basic facilities to keep the karozzin horses protected from the scorching sun is too high a price to pay for their well-being.

In 2003 the Valletta council was given €200,000 by the EU to spend on projects for the city. Bins and bus shelters were provided so why not the much-needed horse shelters?

If these horses were not well kept by their owners their trade would deteriorate. Most of the horses are in fact beautifully kept, well-fed, cleaned and given regular veterinary treatment obviously paid for by their owners.

Unfortunately, unlike children, their rights are not considered a priority.