On the Dot...

It would seem that people who complain that public conveniences are dirty or unfinished don't know how good they have it. The Upper Barrakka Gardens, in Valletta, for instance, remain open until 11 p.m. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, the public convenience there is closed at about 8 p.m.

Dump Disgust

Passing from near the private school opposite the back door of the Russian Federation's Embassy in Antonio Schembri Street, Kappara, one cannot but feel disgust. The foreign students who attend that school assume they can just dump their empty plastic water bottles, sweets packets and whatnot just opposite the school's main door from where the students, teachers and school management pass. Don't their teachers care enough to ask them to desist?

Clean Sweep

The upper part of Antonio Bosio Street, in Msida, is in a dreadful state. People who regularly take their dogs for walks there never bother to clean up after them despite the regulations. This, and other factors, is causing a lot of bad smells. Complaints to the local council have been made several times, but nothing has been done about it.

In Form

It would seem that the situation at the Admissions Office at the University has reverted to its normal state of bustling, courteous efficiency. It is indeed a pity that one isolated incident, blown out of proportion, is taken as representational of a situation over which the staff has no control whatsoever.

Motor Ways

Cars for sale can be seen parked on yellow lines and at corners in the area of Birkirkara Road, San Gwann with no heed to the distances required. This is creating blind spots for oncoming drivers.

Hidden Away

In Giuseppe Calì Street, Ta' Xbiex, two building plots were recently cleared and walled. One of the plots had contained a dangerously large wall; the other, however, had been a pretty field full of trees, including fig trees, which were razed, and flowers and grass, all of which were destroyed. The excuse was that a section of it had become a dumping site. Rather than this being cleared until the building could commence, the whole area is now hidden from view.

Free Access

Right across the road from these two plots is a building in shell-form that has been vacant for years, but which is still easily accessible to all. It is being used by drug addicts and others, for their own purposes. There is a deep shaft that is covered by a sheet of flimsy black hardboard. This is right next door to Paolo Court, and children play there daily.

Stone Cold

Another very dangerous building is what used to be a hotel in the Ghar Fekruna area. The edifice lies semi-destroyed and accessible, crying out to be explored by people who have nothing better to do. How about some entrepreneur buying at least the stones constructing it, for recycling into other buildings?

Surface Area

In the heat of the early afternoon sun, July 20, someone decided it was fitting that road-patching works be carried out in Triq il-Palazz l-Ahmar, Santa Venera. The furniture-rattling vibrations, however, did not last long. This was because nobody had thought of asking vehicle-owners not to park there for the day; and therefore, most of the holes in the street surface have not been filled in. The work was continued on Saturday, but again, left many of the potholes there.

Corner Stop

At all hours, people continue to dump mounds of rubbish at the corner between St Anthony Street and Winter Street, in Bugibba. An official complaint filed on July 2 was acknowledged the following day but, to date, nothing has been done about the matter. The St Paul's Bay local council evidently has more important things to cater to, indicating perhaps the subtle difference between "voters" and "summer residents".

The Heat is On!

Health professionals and the media are trying to educate us about the danger of being out in the sun from 11 a.m. up to 3 p.m. Yet the Labour Office insists on making people go to register at 2.30 p.m. People from Senglea have to travel all the way to Vittoriosa; and the dearth of public transport usually means that the journey has to be done on foot unless they have private transport.

Ticket to Ride

As from next academic year administrative, technical and industrial staff at the University of Malta will not be able to park their cars in the University car parks as is the current praxis. These hallowed spaces neither will now be reserved for the academic members of staff - who may or may not come in for even an hour per day, to spare them from the hassle of driving around. Other staff will have to park on the ring road or at a reserved area in Car Park 6, where the students park.

onthedot@timesofmalta.com