On the dot

No doubt, the digging of illegal boreholes is contributing to the worst-case scenario envisaged by experts that within 15 years the local aquifer will have been sucked dry. Endemic flora and fauna would be the first to suffer from this dearth. What is the policy with regard to reversing this trend?

What's IT?

Much talk has been made about how Malta ranks among the foremost countries when it comes to information technology both privately and in government departments. Why, then, do some departments ignore e-mails sent to the addresses printed on the firms received by customers? Is this not part of their customer care strategy? Why must people be made to call personally, write letters or use the telephone to connect with some departments whereas others answer e-mails as a matter of course?

Clean Up

The whole valley area between the church of St Anthony, in Birkirkara, down to the back door of the VAT Department, needs a thorough clean up. Not only does the place look shabby, but all the debris will be swept away by rainwater, thereby exacerbating the flooding problem.

Statues Apart

The incident where paint was thrown on the statue of St Dominic in Vittoriosa was dealt with rather quickly. However, this column has long been bringing to the attention of the authorities the case of the paint that was thrown a generation or so ago on the boulders supporting the statue of Dante Alighieri, at the entrance to the Park and Ride complex in Floriana.

Valletta Calling

Many of the pavements of Valletta are still in a disastrous state and some of the blue signposts still have typos in them. But, by far more worrying, is the fact that grilles allow passers-by to see the amount of rubbish that has collected in the drains. It should be fun when the rain causes the system to conk out.

Parking Daze

Is residential parking permitted or is it not? Signs to this effect are sometimes covered with black bin-liner bags to be removed later. Yet, no action is taken with regard to vehicles that do not display the mandatory cardboard "clocks" or those parked in streets designated for residents, for hours on end. This does not make sense.

Vantage Point

The advertising agents of a particular item seek to take advantage of the old lovely statue of St Joseph and Child, known as San Ġużepp tat-Tarġa, standing above the slope from Tarġa Gap towards Burmarrad. Since practically everyone looks at the statue, the chances are that they would look at the billboard as well. This, incidentally, mars the view. The current one replaces a similar one extant until up to a few months ago.

Table Manners

Street furniture has acquired a new meaning. Rather than applying solely to benches where a person may sit to rest and/or enjoy the view, the term has come to refer to tables and chairs set out by bars and restaurants on sundry patches of pavements, and even streets in pedestrian areas. Moreover, people who even attempt to sit down for five minutes to regain their breath without ordering anything are chased away by owners or waiters.

Limited Issue

BoV sends mobile phone messages to people informing them that information will be sent when purchases from "selected" outlets are made. Why do not all establishments where debit cards are honoured participate in this scheme?

Oil Patch

Some garage mechanics consider the street fair game when it comes to repairing cars. As a result, some of the vehicles on which they would be working, occupy precious parking space for days on end. And, to add insult to injury, when the cars are removed, huge patches of oil thick with sludge remain, and no amount of scrubbing with detergent-laden brooms, by householders, will remove it.

Parking Ticket

When is a parker not a parker? When he does not park your car but elects to be a valet instead. There tends to be a loophole in some laws and the one on the CVA system is a case in point. If a person offers to wash your car and you politely demure, you fear "accidental damage" would have been wrought to the vehicle by the time you get back to the parking lot. If, on the other hand, you agree to this, then any monies you hand over to the man making the offer will be for this service not for using "his" spaces. Just don't dare ask for a VAT receipt.

Dress Coded

There was a time when policemen or wardens used to stop shirtless men and half-undressed women in the streets of Valletta, asking them to put on more suitable attire. Alas, this seems to be no longer the case and several tourists, and also locals, are daily seen going about the streets in various states of undress. This jars with the "city built by gentlemen for gentlemen" motto.

Market Place

People have been complaining that Fisherman's Wharf in Marsaxlokk has been taken over by restaurants expropriating public land for their tables and chairs. This is not strictly true, for there exist some narrow passageways through which pedestrians can make their way. However, these are not suitable for anyone using a wheelchair or pushing a buggy - these people must take to the road and chance their way with the traffic.

Public Liability

Permits to build apartments in Lija's main road were issued before the general election. A conservation order issued by Mepa a few days ago means the planned development is blocked. If the developer sues and is successful, who will pay? The people or those who erred or turned a blind eye?