Marsascala: the town that never changes

I was driving home from Żabbar taking the road to Marsascala as I do every evening. I saw the dreaded "new roads" billboard which is now faded; it has become vintage and should be placed in Only in Malta.

Since I have lived in Marsascala, punctures have increased by 500 per cent yearly, the tow company is losing money with me as a client, and my car repair company is much better off as I am spending close to €1000 a year (I can offer documentation) on maintenance of a moderately priced car.

Half-way through, I notice the unbearable stench and I wonder if it's coming from the "odourless" waste recycling plant. The Environment Minister needs to consult an ENT doctor, or else he does not smell the stench because obviously it is an out-of-bounds zone for him.

The project is ready, so there is no need to visit anymore (unless he decides to expand the tonnage of waste). I wonder if the Prime Minister intends to protest about the stench; maybe he should invite the Environment Minister to his home so the latter will know how people in the area are feeling.

Finally I arrive home, which is situated in a road which is listed among the 2006-2008 road projects. Whenever I call the Ministry for Urban Development and Roads I am promised that this road is going to be made within three months, but funnily enough everyone living in this road knows for sure that it won't be surfaced this year, probably not even next year!

I must have made the biggest mistake in coming to live to Marsascala as the government is clearly telling me as a citizen that it does not intend to do anything to upgrade the area.

I have seen a number of letters complaining about these subjects, so this letter will most probably fall on deaf ears once again just like all the letters from fellow Marsascala residents. But I urge everyone to keep writing. Maybe someday some things will change. Or is it that we should adapt the whisky motto: "Some things never change - Marsascala is one of them"!