The state of Dwejra

Recently two people from the Malta Tourism Authority - a gentleman and a lady - turned up to survey and give a report on the Victoria Dwejra Lines to attract tourists.

On their walk they came across a friend of mine and he pointed out the filth surrounding the place and the disgraceful state of the road. The lady told him that roads were built where there was a community of voters and my friend asked her why we paid taxes and VAT on car repairs.

I later phoned the MTA gentleman at his office. He told me the same thing - and I retorted the same way.

He asked for my phone number and said he would contact me. I have been here since 1948 at the time of the British Services and it was spotless. Today it is filthy.

Now Dwejra was earmarked by the Government as a green area and, with its historic heritage properties, an attraction to tourists. Unfortunately the Dwejra Victoria Lines area has been abandoned by the authorities and, as a result (despite books The Victoria Lines and Dwejra Lines Country Walks to attract tourists) one hardly sees a tourist here, as one cannot walk without breaking a leg and one cannot drive because of the state of the roads as nothing has been done since the Services left.

I am a qualified historic heritage lecturer and it is sad to see how the place has deteriorated. There are about 30 families scattered in Dwejra, a large community at Tas-Salib, Tan-Nadur, is-Sant, etc. and, of course, many farmers, besides the hundreds of picnickers who turn up on Sundays. They are all furious because of the state of the roads.

Rabat council has never shown an interest in Dwejra. We get a lot of British visitors, some of whom were in Mtarfa Hospital, David Bruce Military Hospital, and they cannot understand why this beautiful place has been abandoned.

They write in the Queen Alexandra Medical Newsletter, which boasts international circulation, that the historic heritage is all gone, the scar gallery has its entrance blocked with rubbish, one cannot walk along the lines as they are blocked, the caponiers are gone, walls have been pulled down, the ammunition stores are gone, the ditch is full of fruit trees - it is a miserable sight.

How can one invite tourists? As some German tourists once told us: "You advertise your country under false pretences". If you want tourists get the countryside roads done. As for the locals if you want the votes, do the roads.

One last point. There is no discipline.