With reference to the article that appeared on The Times of December 29 with the title Red Palm Weavil - Who You're Gonna Call?, I would like to commend the work being done by this one person. I think it would be great if more people can be trained to carry out this work in order to try to control the infestation taking place by this pest.

I also noted with dismay that one of the areas not mentioned which has been hit badly is Rabat. The valley between Rabat and Mtarfa bypass, close to the Stazzjon, is full of dying palm trees. I have already spoken to the authorities about this (when there were only a few infected trees) but apparently they cannot do anything because it is private land.

The infestation in this particular area started from two trees, right below the bastions, near the side entrance to Mdina, which were left to rot away, till a film crew arrived to film Mdina and were then chopped off. Unfortunately, it was too late, since there are more than 10 infected trees presently being left to rot away in this beautiful valley. This is a great pity since some of these trees must be well over 100 years old. Mtarfa has also been hit but not as badly as this valley yet.

Will anything be done anytime soon to save the remaining few palm trees in this area?"