On the Dot...

Pedestrians and motorists alike in Triq l-Iskal, Marsascala find it nearly impossible to pass through the street. The street is riddled with construction material and a trench dug up to rectify a drainage problem some time ago has been left half finished. No one has taken any action even if both the council and the police have been informed of the mess.

Side Swept

Someone has decided to curb the heavy flow of traffic that obtains just where Canon Road opens into High Street, in Hamrun, in front of the fast food outlet. A triangular cross between a sleeping policeman and a roundabout has induced even more chaos. Parking is haphazard, and so cars coming from the former street find themselves halfway up the mound before realising what is happening.

Lamp Posted

On Tuesday, July 11, the street lights were still on in most of Valletta. This column has long been suggesting a freephone where such faults -and, as a corollary, waste - could be reported, but so far nothing has been done about it.

Nursing Grievances

The dignity of work is being trampled upon by those who seek to use their staff as cheap labour, on the premise that if they do not like the conditions they can seek alternative employment. Yet, the issue is not as clear-cut as that; a job is not a readily-available commodity. The state is not immune to this phenomenon, either; student nurses, despite their onerous jobs, are being paid a pittance, ironically when the health sector is understaffed.

Gowk Hunting

It would seem that the hunting lobby is on the warpath again. The strong language used by Lino Farrrugia, secretary of the Federation for Hunting and Conservation, leaves much to be desired. Talking about anyone having to step "over a lot of dead bodies", when the "sport" in question involves arms, is taking a metaphor too far.

Bending Rules

A survey by The Sunday Times indicated that 70 per cent of those polled think the Police Force is not enforcing the law, when it came to drinking at entertainment sites. This figure is indicative of several things; inter alia that there are not enough alternative leisure activities for those who want to have a so-called "good time"; that there is not enough police presence in such places of entertainment; and that, moreover, those who supply the alcohol are not acting aboveboard.

Film Stripes

The installation of CCTV cameras in Republic Street, Valletta, has been conducive to a decrease in the overall levels of crime in the area. One would venture to say that, if similar action were taken, through the installation of one camera aimed at each monument that appears to attract the attention of vandals every so often, with all the lines being linked to a central control room, it would act as a deterrent for those who have evil on their minds.

Candle Power

Some time ago, a lot of money was spent in renovating the interior of the Jesuits' church, in Valletta; some of the damage had been due to the extremely high number of votive candles placed in front of statues or holy pictures. Today, the situation is as bad as it ever was. The smell of burning wicks when the candles are put out is enough to indicate that damage is being wrought to this historical building, yet again.

Fish Faces

A lot of fuss is being made about the invasion of shoals of jellyfish upon our beaches. Alas, what is being overlooked is that, when one opts to spend some time in the sea, one would rather do so in a clean environment. When are we going to see regularly-updated tables indicating the water quality of different beaches, and not only the more popular ones?

Horse Sense

A lot has been said and done about the plight of karrozzin horses that ply for trade in several areas, including Valletta. These horses stand patiently in the heat, awaiting fares, whilst their owners move into every available nook of shade. They explain to anyone who will listen that horses do not "feel the heat as much as we do" and that giving them even tepid water to drink will do "more harm than good".

Pigeon Whole

Valletta, Floriana and other places are still inundated with pigeon droppings. Nothing has been done to curb the ever-burgeoning population of these vermin. Moreover, people still go around with soggy bags of bread in order to provide them with food - and the opportunity to raise a new generation of building-fouling, infection-toting young birds.

Bang Bang

Despite the hullabaloo about noise pollution during festa time, there are still those who think that making people jump out of their skin is perfectly justified if this is done "in honour" of a particular saint. Fireworks that produce brilliant displays of light are also an example of money going up in smoke, but, at least, unlike petards, they have something to show for it.

Sand Storm

Guests at the Halland Hotel, Ta' l-Ibrag, have the benefit of enjoying the real life effect of a sand storm from their bedrooms. No film is being shot there, but sand blasting on three blocks has just started, right in the middle of summer!