¤ The advanced technology of our age has even reached our front doors. This includes the way we settle our bills. However, the postal services in Victoria and other Gozo branches are an exception. In the last few days I happened to stand in a queue to post a parcel. I overheard a foreign couple and two Maltese ladies complaining there were no EPOS facilities and could not pay by card. Could the postal authorities see to this?
¤ The recent spate of reports in the local papers about the Akkademja tal-Malti's annual general meeting beg the question: what is the use of having an academy if the government departments still ignore and do not treat our language as the official language? The majority of official correspondence is written in English. Even parastatal entities, such as Gozo Channel, issue press releases on shifting the ticketing system to Cirkewwa dated July 20 on its ship board notices only in English. Why is the company's Website only in English? Is not our mother tongue one of the EU's official languages?
¤ Now that summer is over, it would be opportune for Zebbug council to tarmac the Marsalforn parking area. It looks abandoned and dishevelled. The infrastructure already exists - all it needs is embellishment and organisation.
¤ Victoria needs more litter bins. The existing ones are being left to overspill. More bins and emptying them more often will get the right environmental message across to everyone. Ditto the containers at the bring-in facilities.
¤ The public convenience on Independence Square in Victoria needs a radical facelift. It is essential for locals and tourists but its current state puts people off using it.
¤ The subway project in front the Agius de Soldanis school in Victoria has been sealed off by MEPA and now lies unused under the road surface. Surely the subway will facilitate students' crossings and avert any serious traffic accidents. Pelican lights are badly needed to make crossing the road here safer. Maybe they will be installed when a tragic accident takes place as happened a few years ago!
¤ The crumbling Citadel bastions are being left in pitch darkness, especially the side facing Zebbug. I contacted several entities including Enemalta and Victoria council but no one seems to take responsibility for this state of affairs - both point their fingers at each other.
¤ The recent spate of thefts in Nadur, Kercem, Victoria and Gharb has given rise to concern. The victims were mostly elderly people who go to church early in the morning leaving their homes unattended. Some do not file a report with the police for various reasons of their own. In Gozo theft cases usually go unsolved and people often think it is useless to go to the police.
¤ Local councils should promote neighbourhood watches in Gozo as has been done in Malta.
¤ The Health Department in Valletta provides the E111 service which involves filling in a form to entitle Maltese travellers to health care in other EU countries. No such service is provided at Gozo General Hospital or in any health department in Gozo so Gozitans have to fill the form in Malta. Is this not causing unnecessary hardship?
¤ Gozo Channel management should take note of how frequently the ferries' lifts are out of order and their lack of maintenance. On September 26, while boarding the 1 p.m. ferry from Mgarr, I witnessed a foreigner with a walking stick who could not make it to the passengers' deck because the only available passageway was the flight of steps. She had to remain on the car deck.
¤ Joining tourists on a visit to the Citadel was a positive experience for me. Improvement and embellishment works on the ravelin and on the reservoir are evidence of the workers' commitment. This shows good management. Not it is hoped that the embellishment works on the ravelin will be carried out, including landscaping and the installation of public benches.
¤ Can anyone ensure that the roundabout markings at the Republic Street crossroad in Victoria be followed by motorists? The markings are no longer visible because the paint was covered by overriding marks after a week. The roundabout markings may be substituted by a low hump with arrows around it so that it becomes permanently visible. Some may disagree with this suggestion because it would obstruct horse races during the St George and Santa Marija feasts. But should not the races be transferred to the track at Ta' Xhajma.
¤ Congratulations to the new Permanent Secretary at the Gozo Ministry, Joseph Micallef. We wish him well.
¤ Some traffic management is needed at the top of Main Gate Street. Every time a bus tries to drive the wrong way vehicles continue to go up the road to St Francis Square and other oncoming vehicles from Enrico Mizzi Street stop behind the bus blocking access to Vajringa Street. As a result, traffic from Main Gate Street is brought to halt by the fountain.
¤ The government's commitment to improve the civil service is very welcome. It is hoped that this scheme entered into by the government with the UK will include officers in Gozo departments.
¤ While driving at Marsalforn recently, I happened to be following a rubbish lorry collecting refuse along Assumption Road. I was shocked to find that the refuse collectors were certainly under-aged. They were not wearing gloves or fluorescent jackets.
¤ It is high time that something is done about the state of the pavement along Main Gate Street, Victoria. Most of the ceramic tiles have come off so it is dangerous. Can the water drainpipes be placed under the pavement so that water will not spill over the pavement?