On the dot

A Smart car has been parked in the same place, in Triq il-Ħtajriet, Mosta, at least since February. The licence, bearing the date July 2009, has obviously long expired. In addition, both front tyres are deflated and, so, the car cannot even be driven off. This issue was reported to the executive secretary of the Mosta council on March 2 and, as yet, no action has been taken.

Parking

The situation where cars park by the traffic island in Oscar Zammit Street, Msida is as bad as it ever was. In the same area, there is an open space around which a boundary wall has not been erected, as is required by law. Each Sunday, a truck is parked right in the way of vehicles being driven towards the Immaculate Conception church in Ħamrun making it difficult for motorists to manoeuvre their cars in such an area of heavy traffic coming their way from the other side.

Inconvenience

The public convenience by the old market in Ħamrun is still in a disgraceful state. Apart from the fact that accessibility is difficult, owing to the flight of steps, the stench even from outside the toilets is incredible, such that a notice indicating the purpose of the place is extraneous. The situation is even worse upstairs.

Pence

Anyone thinking of using the alternative convenience - the one opposite the Ħamrun branch post office - would be better off buying a cup of tea from a bar and, thus, entitling himself to use the toilets therein. The smell is so awful that when the post office queue is too long to accommodate everyone inside, and so it spills out towards the bus stop, people have been heard to comment about it. Hygiene in public conveniences is of paramount importance; it is not something to joke about.

Cemetery

The marvellous Gothic structure of the Maria Addolorata cemetery keeps getting worse. One wonders whether the present rack and ruin of the stone lacework may ever be repaired and, if so, at what cost. We boast that we have the finest garden of rest in Europe but that, apparently, does not mean that the authorities are too keen to preserve it. Incidentally, why is not special attention paid to all the taps that provide visitors with water for their plants and flowers? Some don't work and some leak and drip, even when closed, thus wasting precious resources.

Parker

Sometimes one notes that the details on the name tags of car park attendants are not visible because they are turned the other way about. Apart from the fact that in such circumstances a motorist would not be able to address the attendant by name, it also would not be possible to check that they are authorised and to report them if the need arises. Perhaps the competent authority (Would that be Transport Malta?) can address the matter.

Flowers

Why is it that flower sellers are allowed to occupy the centre aisle of the way towards the cemetery? These take up precious parking space. Sometimes, they also pose a threat to people when they all but thrust bouquets into the faces of people sitting in the passenger side who happen to have their windows rolled down. It is a fact that competition is rife and that most people are keen to purchase flowers from the first person who offers them. Yet, things would run much smoother if all sellers were lined up against the side of the piazza.

Prisoners

It is heartening to see that 71 prison residents are being allowed to study and work outside, provided that certain conditions are followed. The fact that permits have been granted means that these people are given the opportunity to proactively better their own situation. One wonders whether, for those prisoners who do not qualify for permits, some sort of work inside the prison may be found, some of the proceeds from which could go to their victims to make up for the crimes committed against them.

Folklore

There was a time when those chosen to accompany għana singers considered it a great honour to be selected. Then came a time when this traditional form of expression was shunted on the back-burner because nobody thought it was worth cultivating. However, the work and the dream of the great, late, Ġorġ Mifsud Chircop appears to be finally bearing fruit. One hopes that, very soon, għana will regain its rightful place along with a resurgence of djaletti and both will be as recognisably Maltese as bobbin lace.

Racers

It appears that the organisers of the Valletta Grand Prix somehow imagined, yet again, that the streets of the city could be likened to those of other cities where similar events are held. Even only one accident would have been one accident too many. One hopes that, in the run-up to next year's event, due care is taken to provide adequate traction in the road surfaces for car wheels. Moreover, the sooner this exercise starts, the better because many motorists prefer to use the scenic route than negotiating the streets of Valletta to find parking before they run their errands.

Pausing

Another complaint by residents and visitors was about the opening and closing of streets between one mini-event and another. Sunday is the day when most ex-residents of Valletta visit their families or call for elderly parents to take them out for the day. The opening of streets was planned to be for 20 minutes between each lap, however, there was no mention of the time taken between these pauses. Some people ended up having to park cars a long way away in order to call personally for their elderly, having agreed on a pick-up point different from the person's house and where, therefore, no contact could be made.