This is the entry to Ganu Street, Birkirkara, from the Naxxar Road side, not too far from the Ganu Windmill. When the picture was taken the rubbish had been there for two days and this state of affairs is not rare at all, apart from other inconveniences. At least one resident insists the mayor has been informed... to no avail.

High Rock

The plastic sign indicating Tal-Blata l-Gholja, in the limits of Mosta, was broken a long time ago, and so it remains. Indeed, the whole surrounding area is in a shambles, with a hotchpotch of builders' debris, soil and garbage forming a chain around the edge of the field. This, in turn, has no boundary wall, and the soil standing loose is just an accident waiting to happen.

True Guardian

In Britain, the charge of familial homicide came into force in May 2005 under section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crimes and Victims Act 2004. This law provides for the prosecution of any person in a household for failing to intervene to protect a child victim of domestic crime. This ought to provide food for thought for legislators all over the world, including Malta.

Technically Speaking

It would seem that there are two ways to translate "information technology" into the vernacular. On the web page of the ministry responsible for this portfolio, it is given as Ministeru ghall-Investiment, Industrija u Teknologija ta' l-Informazzjoni, whereas on the government e-directory it is listed as Ministeru ghall-Investiment, Industrija u Teknologija ta' l-Informatika.

Soft Sell

The National Euro Changeover Committee is doing its level best to ensure shops comply with the dual-pricing system by encouraging businesses to start doing this beforehand. One enterprising company has done just that. One item costing Lm1 is shown as costing €2.50. This is over seven per cent more than what it ought to be, taking the officially designated rate to be €2.33.

Welcome Mate

A delightful ethnic-style mat is placed right inside the door of the Floriana health centre when it rains so that people may wipe the soles of their shoes. This small carpet tends to move about with such actions. Since a good number of the people who visit these clinics are elderly or infirm, it should be attached to the floor with double-sided tape.

Light Work

Last Monday morning, streetlights were left on all morning in the Targa Gap/Upper Mosta area. The system that is supposed to switch lights on and off according to a timer system sometimes fails when the switch does not trip automatically. This is why a freephone number must be provided for the public to report such instances - which must then be rectified immediately.

Rain Pain

The residents of Valley Road, Msida, had been promised that "never again" would they experience floods tinged with sewage because the last time it happened there was an overflow of drains that had not been dredged and could not cope with the copious rainfall. The latest occurrence of this "foul play", however, occurred when no rain had fallen immediately beforehand. So the fault must lie elsewhere.

Wheel Good

The Park and Ride scheme has come into force - and, yet, it does not seem to have attracted the hordes of motorists that were envisaged by the planners. Moreover, the elderly residents of Valletta have not yet been unformed whether their next of kin would be allowed permits allowing them to park free within the city limits when they called for visits.

Public Knowledge

Would the Department of Information or the Press Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister kindly inform the public which are those ministries that are not fully cooperating in the government's green initiatives? Or are they only harbingers of good news?

Walk About

Is not the cemetery a public place? Why is it then that wardens do not include it in their beat? This would discourage vandalism, theft and littering, figuratively killing three birds with one stone rather than the proverbial two.