On the dot

Many tourists stop at street corners at Valletta to gaze at the votive statues decorating buildings. Sometimes, Maltese passers-by oblige by giving the name of the saint and occasionally a brief hagiography. This, however, is not always forthcoming. Would it not be nice were a plaque with this information to be attached to the wall near each statue to facilitate things?

Fast Service

One would have thought that a network of connections between government departments would make things easier for people who need to obtain things from more than one, at any given moment. This is not the case. For instance, school-leavers who are still under 16 have to go to their local social services department and to the exemption division at Floriana, to obtain forms, get them signed and return them. Could not the teenagers' local council have helped in this in the style of one-stop shop?

Open Markets

There are localities where the flea markets are allowed to sprawl across several streets. This means that entrances to homes are blocked, especially where parking on the pavement is allowed. Two examples are the Żurrieq and Birkirkara markets. Moreover, the amount of rubbish left behind by stall-holders who do not bother to clean up behind them is immense.

Paper Chasing

Many people have already moved to their summer residences, given the heat. Yet, those who deliver advertorial flyers and pamphlets persist in chucking the mail onto driveways and porches, without bothering to use letter boxes. This immediately indicates that premises are temporarily empty to any persons loitering with malicious intent.

Horse Sense

This column has often brought to the fore the plight of karozzin horses. It is time to ask again why some of them are kept in the blazing sun while their owners drink beer in the shade; why those who cannot even handle a low-gradient incline without twisting their hind legs with every pace are kept in service; why some horses sport sores that are not protected by any type of bandage or cover; and why, indeed, the mess horses leave behind is not cleaned by the drivers, as is expected of dog owners.

Deck Space

The situation with regard to space on the concrete platform, the landing place of tourists at the Blue Lagoon, in Comino, is becoming impossible in view of the large number of deckchairs and umbrellas placed there waiting to be hired. Day trippers with no intention to hire the facilities can hardly find the space to put their things down as the whole area is occupied by the umbrellas, even before people start arriving. Action is needed to improve the situation.

Sea Ladders

The summer season - unless there is more than meets the eye - has brought about a debate on the state of ladders at a number of beaches. Can somebody inform the public who is responsible for the installation and maintenance of such facilities? Logic would say that this should be the local council's chore but, given the Maltese penchant of passing the buck, you would never know.

Adding Fuel...

It would appear that some local service stations do not issue a VAT fiscal receipt for fuel purchased by the owners of private vehicles. Does the VAT department approve of this practice?

Advanced Studies

Several foreign students attending EFL schools are seen going on their way to lessons very skimpily dressed. Some of them are seen smoking and others are half-asleep. Is there no one available to set standards of behaviour? Does no school want to be the first to bell the cat and introduce a dress code for fear of being thought not as avant-garde as the rest?

Rest Rooms

Speaking of standards, who sets the standards for the cleanliness of toilets at places such as the Marsa Sports Grounds and public lavatories? If no attendant is present at all times, the least that can be done is the installation of CCTV. This system would ultimately pay for itself in the money saved from vandalism and money used to purchase cleaning materials. People would be wary of misbehaving if they knew the common areas were under scrutiny and that any negative behaviour was being relayed to a monitor.

Bathers Only

At long last, the beautiful Santa Marija Bay, also in Comino, was made safe by the Malta Maritime Authority, which has delineated the swimming zone with a continuous surface line and floats. Well done. The floats alone were ineffective and had served craft owners to secure their boats with. Craft owners are now advised that the line prohibits entry of whatsoever craft irrespective of whether this is propelled by an engine or oars. The enclosed area is exclusively for swimmers.

Wood Row

To remain on the subject, the sandy beach at Santa Marija is embellished with a row of trees on the foreshore providing shelter to bathers. However, these trees often fall victim to vandals. A group last Sunday used a chainsaw to saw off live branches in order to have wood to burn to cook their food. These trees need to be protected.

In Touch

A final point about Santa Marija Bay. There is still no public telephone booth there. It is true that many no longer use the land line because they have mobile phones but a telephone booth can become very useful. The last booth installed on the way to the Comino police station was removed a few years ago.