On the dot

The "to be or not to be" question about the so-called monument at Luqa had a positive unexpected side-effect. The world's press realised it was not the "mayor of Malta" who raised an objection, that Luqa is not the village where there is "Malta's main airport" and that Malta is an archipelago as well as an island and a republic. Thank heaven for small mercies.

Unplanned

In the frantic clean-up drive in preparation of last weekend's Papal visit, the arcades in St Anne Street, Floriana, were given a fresh coat of magnolia paint and the railings were painted black. Those entrusted with the job first did the lower part of the arcades, when the railings were being painted, and then moved on to the upper part. As a result one could notice patches of magnolia colour on the freshly-painted railings!

Secure

It is all good that landscaping and security were stepped up prior to and during Pope Benedict XVI's visit. However, one now expects this state of affairs, once attained, to be maintained for the people who pay tax so that it could be carried out. There have been enough jokes about this to last a lifetime, therefore, we do not need any occasion where more may be cracked.

Inconvenience

There is a dearth of public conveniences in the northern part of the island, just after one exits Mosta. This means that people would have to purchase something from a restaurant in order to be able to use the toilets. The alternative had better not be mentioned. There are instances when people would gladly pay the 30c being asked of the patrons of the snazzy toilets in Strait Street, Valletta.

Playtime

The climbing frame at Għadira Bay is rusty and unsteady. Yet, children still clamber over it with no thought for their own safety. Cutting themselves and getting rust under the skin, or falling off if the structure collapses, are present dangers. The frame should either be repaired or replaced before more and more children begin using it on trips to the beach.

Caged

BirdLife is on record as blaming the government for ill-equipped police unable to control illegal hunting and trapping of birds. It may be true that the police force is spread thinly, perhaps because of under-staffing. However, the fact remains that slapping mammoth fines on anyone caught breaking the rules, in order to make an example of him, would, no doubt, cause the amount of offenders to decrease.

Emigrants

A recent court-case has highlighted the fact that there may be foreigners who entered the country legally, albeit with a visa that permitted them to remain here for a set amount of time. Is it asking for the impossible when enquiring whether any follow-up checking is made against the list of people who are allowed into Malta for a definite period of time? Are their names, at any time, cross-checked with those of passengers leaving the island?

Dodgy?

Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino announced recently that dogs, such as pit-bull terriers, and breeds that are deemed aggressive will shortly be micro-chipped. However, the new regulations ought to cover all dogs that are kept as domestic pets, whether they are pedigrees or mutts. This would ensure that the owners of any dog that is abandoned may be traced.

Embellishments

The San Ġwann local council is to be commended for the road resurfacing and the embellishment of the area under the Regional Road Bridge, including the playground. However, there are still visible cracks in the bridge that may be potentially dangerous. They ought to be fixed and then the whole bridge spruced up with a coat of paint.

Protrusions

The relatively new car park in Rabat next to the Roman Domus is a nice change from the rough ground there was before and has made for some excellently-sited parking spaces. However, metal bars have been installed on the car park's surface with the aim of stopping car bumpers short of protruding onto the main road. These, however, are proving highly dangerous for pedestrians. There was recently a spate of falls by people who were unprepared for them, especially in the dark.

Careless

One sometimes wonders why the Water Services Corporation bothers to have a customer care section. It is almost impossible to get through to the Freephone number 8007 2222. Some people send e-mails instead. One client who sent an e-mail on March 26 and a follow-up on March 30 received an automatically-generated, unsigned, stock reply. To date, this person has not been contacted by a WSC officer.

... falls

As has already been noted in these columns, it is not feasible to opt for standing in line, either. A client who needed to install a new service had to stand in line with those wanting to pay a bill. The queue outside the offices, on that particular Wednesday, numbered more than 100. The ushers were exercising what little power they had, very rudely. They ought to be given induction courses in communication skills.

Privately

This column has long been calling for the clearing of footpaths along Tal-Ibraġ Road in Swieqi, which for one reason or another have been blocked. And, yet, people still have to walk along the busy streets, risking being run over by one of the cars that regularly overspeed along this stretch. Incidentally, how is it that a street lamp has found itself in the middle of a private garden?

Accountable

Residents say that complaints to do something about the (non-existent) access road to the fireworks factory that exploded on Thursday fell on deaf ears. Who would have carried the can should there have been victims but the rescue services were unable to reach the site? Will it be a case of passing the buck?