Syringes in the sand, 'a common occurrence', tourist told

Steven Brockwell

Jul 24th 2009, 20:43

go to any public park or building site or any were else in malta ??? the police during hunting season are so driven to catch the eagle hunter imma when it comes to drugs well thats an other story because it does not make international head lines thanks to bird life ???? all the police are catching hunters ????

W Spencer

Jul 24th 2009, 17:27

@ Lorna Mifsud It is NEVER of any consolation, and it is of no relevance, to state what problems other Countries have, in defence of your own Country's problems . Take your Country's problems, failings, shortcomings, on the chin and do something constructive to resolve such matters.

Lorna Mifsud

Jul 24th 2009, 15:17

@ Andrew Jacks: Is it only the MTA the which is to show the plus and minuses of coming for a holiday in Malta? Do foreign Tourism Authorities give you the murder, mug and robbery rates for their countries? Does, for example, Heathrow Airport distrbute brochures to tourists upon arrival that they might become a victim of terrorism or that they might be the victim of shooting sprees? It is undoubtedly shameful that the there are syringes in the sand. It is a pity that not even beaches have been spared the scourge of drug addiction. However, I would love to see one day an advertisement giving you the cons of the advertised product. This is ludicrous!

And, pray, how would this information be given: in the form of a warning? Warning: Visiting Malta could land you in hospital with a needle stick injury.

Let's be realistic. I, for starters, am appalled that these things still happen - sand should be cleaned and rendered safe. However, I don't expect to be told by the country I'm visiting or, even more so, by its Tourism Authority that visiting the country is carries risks.

Let's be realistic, shall we.

E Desira

Jul 24th 2009, 11:25

@ B Camilleri…well said! It’s a shame that such things are given a widely publicity where as disastrous playing field, football pitches (if one can call them so) and water polo pitch are never mentioned!! Buga’s YN work so hard with youngsters and to provide such service it only has those pitches at pretty bay and a container to keep the equipment in, such container which is continuously exposed to vandalism. What are we doing to keep youngsters in Buga active so they will be healthy and avoid abuse of drugs and alcohol?

I think that police must enforce law on the beach by giving out fines to all those who leave a mess behind them (plastic bottles, boxes etc.) I am not against bbqs but I’m against people leaving a mess behind them. Enforcing laws is a better way of doing things instead of telling people not to do bbqs like at Ghadira!! If one sees a police officer or a warden doing his job well and visiting the beach to see that everyone is observing laws and the beach is kept clean, he/she would hesitate before doing something wrong and abuses will be stopped or better controlled.

G. Mangion

Jul 24th 2009, 11:01

At all

Seems the Kunsilli Locali dont care about this Blog !!
At Floriana the problem had more increased since this Unfortunate accident, cissss !
Solution ? Yes STOP GIVING Syringes to them , If they have Money for the Junk, then they also have for the Syringes.................

A MIcallef

Jul 23rd 2009, 21:13

This is the fault of the health department who continue to dish out syringes to drug addicts without implementing a needle exchange program. Their misguided reasoning is that drug addicts are too lazy to return the used syringes and will resort to sharing, resulting in hepatitus and HIV. Why is the health of a selfish, irresponsible, drug addict more important than that of a child?

Marton Saliba

Jul 23rd 2009, 18:14

As if no-one knows that Pretty bay is a Junkie-hole

TRW O'Neill

Jul 23rd 2009, 15:50

To all who say CTV is too expensive to provide, the culprits caught on film should be fined enough to cover the costs of the cameras & servicing,publisise this , litering will dwindle. Police & wardens who do not do what they are paid for , should be sacked, they can be replaced by people who want to work for their wages.As for the addicts, do as the sensible people say, make it a rule that to receive a drug administered by needle, before a fresh needle is provided the empty one MUST be returned, If they want to risk HIV or even Aids , more fool them.All the liberals are doing is aiding the guilty , & trying to make lawful people feel sorry for being honest & tidy. Shame on them!QED

Karl Consiglio

Jul 23rd 2009, 13:41

Used condoms in the sand, another common occurrence.

Gatt Joe

Jul 23rd 2009, 13:00

The Tax payer foots the bill everytime, so, why not punish the culprit, why not serializing each syringe, any one collecting such, be it at the pharmacy, clinics ect. will need to produce I.D. and sign up. Then we`ll see who is responsible. To all individuals who are rightly worried about dog litter, I say, when you go for a dip, what is the first thing you do, when that cold water gets to you, so pls do not pee in the sea either, as others are using it too.

E AZZOPARDI

Jul 23rd 2009, 11:20

jien naqbel li isir xi forma ta magna li itik labra nadifa ma kull wahda li taghti lura mahmuga b'hekk jonqsu hafna milli jintermaw kif gie gie.fuq kollox dawn min flus il poplu jiehdu labar u povru jekk tkun marid biz zokkor ax bil kwota ituk.imma jekk tkun addict tmur il- h/c u kemm titlob ituk .

saviour visanich

Jul 23rd 2009, 08:36

I have been living in Birzebbugia for the past 24 years, and I can say that the place has never been more dirtier than now. If wardens can start fining dog owners for the filth their dogs leave on the pavements, we can collect enough money to turn this place into a small paradise, not to mention all the take away food packaging that is just thrown away all over the place. But this is Malta, and we never learn until we start being fined.

J Rich

Jul 23rd 2009, 03:10

Forgive me if this is redundant, I only skimmed through all the other comments. One simple way to keep the beaches clean would be to invest in a machine similiar to a manure spreader, but it workes in reverse being pulled by a small tractor. It picks up the sand and the heavier objects remain in the bin while the sand falls back to the ground. Perhaps a task for the sanitary crew every couple of days.

It's pretty common on the East Coast beaches I've visited to see the beaches being cleaned in the morning before everyone pitches camp for the day.

I realize this is not a solution for drug use or the abuse of your lovely beaches, but may curb or prevent injury.

C. Weitze

Jul 23rd 2009, 00:05

Twenty years ago I whitnessed police men in southern Spain checking every park, lawn and every public beach for siringes - using a mix between metal detector and magnet device. A Spanish friend brought it to my attention and actually asked one of the policen officers to turn around the device to let me have a look at what they had picked up so far. I must say that it was pretty impressive.

So, if the Spanish could already do something about used sirignes in public places twenty years ago, one should assume, that in 2009 it shouldn't be a problem at all for the authorities to solve this problem.

Phil Pryce

Jul 22nd 2009, 19:31

So we give these people syringes so that they can shoot up whatever they choose, and we never do anything to encourage them to return used syringes. How stupid is that? We do the same with plastic bottles; no deposit. Result, plastic bottles everywhere. Unless the government does something about both issues (and a few more I could mention but I'm tired of mentioning them) the situation is going to continue and get much worse. Wake up and actually DO SOMETHING!!!!!

Andrew Cumbo

Jul 22nd 2009, 19:22

As I frequently visit this locality and see Police making walking patrols along B’Bugia promenade, hope Police stationed in this locality now start making patrols on this sandy beach too, since it was noted below that drug user’s stay in the middle of Pretty Bay in the dark night hours. Drug users might be conscious with the presence of police and we reduce health risks from these irresponsible people.

Brandon Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:46

I wonder why The Times gives so much prominence to this news with even a photo of the place without making a real investigation. Better have a look at the disastrous playing field and football pitch. Will this article serve as an excuse for the government to say that the bay is not fit any more for bathing and then be able to industrialise it more by moving the polluting industry from the Grand Harbour to Birzebbuga.

Part of the blame is of the local council and his idea to create a skate board ring for teens. This ended up being an area of teens from all the localities in the area doing god knows what underneath the slides from where no one can watch them. Furthermore Saturday evenings it is full of BBQs and a lot of people sleep there in tents. Maybe it is high time the local council does as the Mellieha Council is doing. At least the bay will have a blue flag.

I am curious to know how The Times got to know about this !!!

Raymond Sammut

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:44

If Malta has people addicted to heroin, then Malta needs to set up clinics for heroin addicts. These type of clinics were highly controversial in countries where they were first implemented. But the reality of heroin addiction has shown that these type of clinics are needed in order to protect the public at large. These clinics can potentially provide refuge and education to addicts, and reduce the workload on police resources if managed discreetly. The cost to society of maintaining such clinics, in my view, far outweighs the cost incurred from not acknowledging the problem.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 18:32

I guess these syringes are ALSO the result of family barbecues......Local council take note...

Alexander Cassola

Jul 22nd 2009, 16:51

A few weeks ago I was at Ghajn Tuffieha with friends and noticed at least 2 used syringes on the sand. They looked quite old and luckily they were only the pump of the syringes (the tubular part that holds the small piston) as the needle was not attached. This is a worrying matter that needs to be dealt with.

Paul Vella

Jul 22nd 2009, 15:58

Regarding the comments by Messrs Andrew/Margie Jacks, do the London brochures ever mention pick pockets, smog, or even the rain when visiting..come on get a life!! Then again, nobody mentioned the girl being pricked so why ask about the girl?
Getting back to this article, we all know we have a serious drug problem on our islands. Anyone passing close to the old St. Luke's Hospital can see this with their own eyes, the number of people waiting there for their allocation of free syringes is evident of this.
A couple of weeks ago, I attended a funeral mass at the Lourdes Church in Pieta. Forming part of the family of the deceased, after mass we all congregated at the exit and whilst meeting family and friends, we noticed a number of used syringes in the church grounds. We brought this to the attention of the parish priest who very casually told us that it is a very common occurence with youths regularly climbing over the church garden fences and perimeter after sunset. He also told us that the police had been informed on a number of occasions. Question is, what is being done about this?

Pierre Micallef Grimaud

Jul 22nd 2009, 15:57

The police remove hundreds of used syringes from hidden places throughout the Islands of Malta & Gozo. Unfortunately, some drug abusers dispose of their syringes in the sand where hundreds of people enjoy themselves like this poor British tourist who was enjoying himself playing on the sand with his young daughter. I strongly recommend that if anyone had to recognise an abuser disposing of his or her syringe in a wrong manner, to report to the police, not just for abusing, but for risking other people’s lives.

E Saliba

Jul 22nd 2009, 15:33

I feel for Mr Gillespie as the same thing happened to me. First there was the pain, then fear and then there was the anger.

That it is a “common occurrence” is nowhere as good enough. Just doesn’t cut it, not when the health of an innocent person is involved.

But the blame just doesn’t stop with the authorities…

Someone come and tell me why I should feel sorry for drug users when they are so whacked out of their head that they show absolutely no respect towards other people. Drugs make them selfish they will only care about how, where and when they can get their next fix.

You can have as many syringe retrieval procedures as you want – drug users won’t care. They won’t look around to dispose of the syringe properly and you can hardly expect someone with a fried brain to hold on to a syringe to exchange it for a new one. If they can’t get a new one for free they will simply share the filthy needle with someone else and then we go back to square one.

Monica Pace Bonello

Jul 22nd 2009, 14:40

I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF CAMERAS THIS I GUESS WOULD BE THE BEST INVESTMENT, SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS WOULD SCARE THEM OFF. BUT THE BEACHES STILL NEED URGENT PATROL TO HELP KEEP OUR BEACHES CLEAN AND VISITOR FRIENDLY!!

Mark Vella

Jul 22nd 2009, 14:21

What about the outskirts of Valletta? Namely the Ring Road, near Victoria Gate, Customs etc. These are usually invaded with syringes just lying on the floor. What i can't understand how the authorities never catch these people since it does seem to happen on a weekly if not a daily basis!

Joseph Meli

Jul 22nd 2009, 13:13

I agree that our beaches, but do note that also on main roads pavements that are near the sea shore, are also used or abused by persons who uses syringes to inject him/her self at night time as I had found them along Ta' Xbiex Coast Road and also in Ta' Xbiex Terrace.

To solve this problem one expect that the Health Department in co-operation with the Tourism Departments together plan how they would enforce the proper disposal of syringes. This has to be tacked by either of the following systems:-

(1) Either users be enforced to return the used ones to get new stocks (2) Place special unretrievable disposable boxes which gives him a receipt on which one can be later used, so as to be replace with the used ones deposited. (3) To place several CCTV in various places that are reported to have often been abused with disposal of such syringes.

Tanya Briffa

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:41

Most of the time I feel that actions taken by those in authority are very superficial and only for show - such as banning bbq's and campers from beaches and countryside. I love both bbq's and campings and my friends and I pride oursevles on leaving the area even better than when we arrived if possible. But some picnickers and drug addicts don't care and I'm sure they cause more problems. For the local and general govt. it's easier to ban a few things than to do something positive and constructive such as daily cleaning and litter wardens. Better have the wardens lurking in corners and in hard-to-park places slapping on tickets.....

Charles Zammit

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:36

Birzebbuga is reknown for all round neglect . A lane recently covered and built on has been in complete darkness since . I have cleaned the lane myself many times from among others such as condoms and yes syringes , they could have been insulin but somehow I doubt it .
I know its not on the same subject . But one has to visit the top end of St Angelo Street to see what neglect is all about besides potholes ,parking is even in the middle of the road , near entrances to garages forcing a driver coming out having to drive blind past an improperly parked vehicle and driving to the wrong side of the road with all the danger of a fatal accident . Dirt and litter is strewn all over and rubbish is thrown a few feet from re cycling bins . When a report o
is made about parking or people using this covered lane the police ask if the former has yellow lines painted , which there is not so one is referred to the loal council .The council is useless and the locals do not help. as there is no discipline anywhere

Paul Attard Baldacchino

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:30

What about infra red Cameras at night. And signs stating that the place is under surveillance. It is not hard to do this, and for the cost of it.....it is worth it. You may also have quad bikes 'plough' the sand to pick up rubbish and any underlying items. This is done on many beaches. I am quite sure it is done on some of the more popular beaches in Malta too. It such a pity people like Bill Gillespie have to go through this thanks to the selfishness of other people. This is a serious problem ans something needs to be done now. But we are more concerned in spending ridiculous excessive amounts of money on Festa celebrations and fireworks than on what really counts!

Annamaria Farrugia

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:28

Miss ghom inatfu il-bajja dejjem jekk jista jkun la iird u in-nies jigu joghmu hemmek.

J Schembri

Jul 22nd 2009, 12:26

I was in Pretty Bay once and my 7yr old son found a syring - I had it removed with a tissue as I could not bear to leave it there risking some other kid finding it. Amongst all kinds of litter there are also those who take their pets for a stroll and do not bother cleaning up after them which makes it even more disgusting in the sand. Of course syringes are top hazard in this case...I think it would not cost much having cameras installed..just as some are being installed in public gardens/swings which were constantly being vandalised. This could instil the fear of being watched and eventually caught doing something wrong in these irresponsible persons who do not bother about other people's well being. Patrolling the beaches is also a good idea, the issue of safety should be top priority !

Rachel Ferry

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:49

My daughter found one at Airmer beach, thank god she didn't prick herself. It seams to be a growing problem. Why don't the govenment clean the beaches like they do in spain?

Christian Abdilla

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:46

Now that the location of these drug abusers has been made known, would it be too much to ask the local policemen to take a stroll down the beach from the police station (approx 200 metres away) during the night to discourage such activities ? That is, if they don't mind getting sand in their shoes and having to clean it off afterwards...

Julie Peace

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:44

I feel rather than blaming local councils for not cleaning the beaches up after these people have shot themselves up with whatever they chose to put in their bodies, it might be better to have these places patrolled regularly to catch the perpetrators. Surely it is illegal to shoot up with drugs in a public place? Beats me why they can’t do it in the privacy of their own homes, same problem in UK, being a junkie is their problem, they shouldn’t inflict it on other people.

As to Mrs Jacks, get real. The MTA is hardly likely to say “come to Malta” but you might not be able to swim in the sea because of jellyfish or play on the beach, are they! Most people research their holiday destinations through the internet and guidebooks to get a more unbiased view, I know I did when I first visited in 1998. The tourist authority is only likely to advertise the good, if they point out the bad things, people won’t come! I trust, apart from the jelly fish (a well known problem in Malta and most of the Med every summer) you had a lovely holiday in wonderful Malta?

Andrew Harding

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:43

Disgusting !!

ABORG

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:08

if the government commits itself to do nice sandy beaches for the public like this one and that in st george's bay, why can't the commitment go deeper and invest in propert equipment that will througly clean the sand? unfortunately, everything is half baked it seems....and in ghadira, why doesn;t the Mellieha LC invest in proper cleaners and equipment to pick up all the cigarette stubs and other debris above the surface of this popular beach, instead of wasting time and battling to ban BBQs from the publics' beach?

G .Mangion

Jul 22nd 2009, 11:02

Firstly I wish the most of good health to Mr. Bill Gillespie . What I would like to comment on is
Everybody knows how these Syringes can be very dangerous to all people, Especially, tidy ones as is Mr Bill Gillespie's case. Syringes are found laying around everywhere, For example
At Floriana,SYRINGES ARE SHED ALL OVER, from the Poly Clinic to the Granaries ( Fosos ) were there is the new Monument of
Pietro Floriani, and all the Square the most dangerous part is under the Trees ! I know that the authorities are not the ones to blame, But its the Duty for whoever is Responsible to SEE that this place will be cleaned Daily if necessary, We and Our Children are at a very High Risk
too, By the way can any responsable Person, tell me who is to clean up the above, the Gov't
or the Floriana local counsil ? Thank you.

Mr.Andrew Jacks.

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:44

Its not a very nice thought especially when a young child is unfortunate enough to step on a needlle.. Thats the problem the MTA don't tell us these things they always show and print the positive aspect of a holiday and nothing about what one may expect whilst in Malta or Gozo, for instance the other day we lost a few days swimming because the sea due to the high winds was infested with jelly fish, and all sorts or rubbish washed on the beaches., I think its only fair when people spend alot of money to go to Malta fo a break, they should be told of the plus and minus what one may encounter. Thats all its not such a big deal now is it to tell the truth. I hope the little girl is ok. Margie Jacks ENGLAND

K Camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:35

This is something I have been wondering for years. Our beaches are litterred with rubbish, and sometime syringes by selfish idiots who dump them (on purpose I might say) in the sand. It is stupid how our beaches never get cleaned by machines. They should be cleaned on a daily basis. That's why we pay taxes! it is useless prohibiting BBQ's when our bays are littered with Ice cream cups, and all sorts of rubbish. I can still go and make a picnic and leave a mountaing of rubbish on the beach - therefore prohibitng BBQ's is A WASTE OF TIME and a severe punsihment for educated people who have BBQ's on beaches and never leave any rubbish behind them. Me and my friends have a bbq every saturday and we never leave any litter behind us, and mind you, we are jsut 24yrs old but we are educated enough to clean up before leaving. Anyway - beaches need to be cleaned - it is what they did when AC MILAN trained in Golden Sands, so why not do it for all the people who pay the taxes? is this how we treat our beloved tourist?

n camilleri

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:32

Apart from being sad, this is frustrating to say the least!! I go down to pretty bay every day with my two children and friends to play and twice already our kids pulled up syringes and on another occasion a dead mouse!!! yes a dead mouse. I have reported this to the police station and also have phoned the local council to try and speak to them in order to start patroling or cleaning the beaches properly with machinery not just picking up litter that others don't bother to pick up after them. I don;t know when people are going to realise that if they leave the place clean it will be clean for them next time and looks much nicer. Usually we leave the beach after 8.30p.m. and it hurts to see families leaving packing their belongings and cleaning their children from sand and their bags but very rarely you see families that pick up the litter and dump it in the closest bin!!! SHAME ON US !!

Paul Caruana

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:25

I do not wish to add to the ever growing "to do" government list, but it is high time we realise that our sandy beaches are a precious asset that need protection, be it from barbeques, discarded syringes etc. I believe that there are some 11 such beaches, not an impossibly large number to manage.

We need a system by which, for the summer months, such beaches will be monitored on a 24 hour basis. Clear rules should be in place on what is, and what is not allowed (this by the way would extend to commercial activities).

I would go as far as to say that finding money for such patrols is, at this stage, of greater priority than some fancy upgrade of the valletta entrance (no doubt a commendable exercise in itself).

H.Calleja

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:21

I wonder why Mr.Gillespie is so surprised that he hit a syringe in the sand at Pretty Bay. If he strolls under the Regional Road bridge near the playing field he would easily hit other syringes. It's a shame that no one sees them and cleans the place which is frequented by children.

Giancarlo Refalo

Jul 22nd 2009, 10:10

How sad. and how ironic. No matter how much one looks after one's health, it can be marred by the carelesness of a few selfish and irresponsible individuals.