Plight of Paceville residents

Matthew Bezzina's letter What's Happening To Paceville (May 16) caused some reaction.

I have been serving as a councillor on the St Julians local council for the last three years, and I believe that I am sufficiently informed on the subject having discussed the matter on several occasions with all concerned.

I am fully aware of the plight that the Paceville residents have for long been enduring because I myself reside in Paceville, and have therefore had the opportunity to suffer the same inconvenience that the other residents frequently have. I can speak precisely of the nuisance that visitors procure and of the fracas they regularly leave behind. I am therefore all square with the residents who air their negative views on the situation.

Having said that, I acknowledge the right of visitors to indulge in the entertainment that Paceville provides. Pointing fingers at visitors alone does not help in solving the locality's problems. The burden is squarely on the shoulders of the authorities, and that includes the council itself. The problems of Paceville have been discussed, but not necessarily and adequately tackled, for many years. And it is very unfortunate that the same problems persist. There was a time when matters were effectively kept under check by Joe Brincat, Assistant Commissioner of Police. And perhaps Mr Brincat's return to his former duties in the area would ease the situation once again.

I would like to appeal to the Malta Tourism Authority to take a firmer hand in all matters pertaining to Paceville. I would also petition police officers engaged in the area to bring to bear their authority and ascertain the enforcement of the relevant laws.

Further, I would urge parents to refrain from the custom of driving their under-16-year-old sons and daughters to Paceville and recollecting them at two in the morning the next day.

In addition, I would like to invite schools which cater for foreign students to enforce an adequate behaviour from their students for the benefit of all concerned.

I am open to all necessary discussions on the Paceville subject with anybody who may wish to address me directly at sciclunarichard@hotmail.co.uk. I can also be contacted on telephone number 9937 3111. Together, we may perhaps locate solutions which have so far proved elusive.