Building site island

I am an avid fan of Malta; I enjoy the people, their friendliness and stoicism, and the welcome I receive. However, it astonishes me that there is a debate as to why Malta is fast becoming a place that tourists don't want to visit.

Wake up Malta, your island is a building site!

Why would anyone in their right mind want to visit a place where the skyline is dominated by cranes, the sound of birds is drowned out by jackhammers, the air is full of grit and dust from construction, and roads are closed because of building works; need I go on?

Take Tigné Point for instance. The developer is already at least 18 months behind on construction, but the road which runs around the coast has been closed by them for the past two years, with no sign of it opening. This is outrageous and simply would not happen were there regulations in place which were enforced. To further illustrate the complete disregard for the chaos caused, the same developer has now started yet another development on Manoel Island, scarring the previously tree lined horizon with yet more trucks and another dirt road which will no doubt spawn yet another pile of concrete boxes to sell, but to whom?

The government needs to get a grip on its developers; they are the poison that is killing the island's charm, originality and attractiveness. With so many other places in the world to visit that are unspoilt and tranquil, Malta is rapidly sliding to the bottom of the league of tourism, and will be relegated to the second division if it does not act now.