Qawra and Bugibba... where time stood still

Having waited for 31 days, and after I had to remind the Parliamentary Secretariat for Consumers, Fair Competition, Local Councils and Public Dialogue from the Office of the Prime Minister about the promise made to readers to give me the opportunity to meet with the Chris Said, I finally was given an appointment.

Mr Said confirmed that although there is a general consensus that a separate council for Qawra and Buġibba will improve the services of this locality, he also confirmed that the government was not at this stage in favour of splitting the two from St Paul's Bay even though this will benefit the residents of the area. It is difficult for anyone to convince the residents of Qawra and Buġbba that the reason for this is not political as we are condemned to continue living in squalor and amid traffic anarchy.

Why is it that the wardens are only deployed to spot check for expired road fund licences and ignore all the other traffic infringements, among which the non observance of the one-way systems? Are expired road licences the easiest and most lucrative part of their duties?

Why is it so difficult for the authorities to set up a tourist information centre in the vicinity of the bus station, at least during the peak season, to assist the last remaining visitors wandering the area and enquiring to all and sundry on the tourist services offered?

Why cannot a market, similar to the one in Marsaxlokk, be held in Buġibba Square every Sunday morning to regenerate the local economy? Or is it too much to ask for the local council to get off their backsides and organise such an event? I am sure that this will be welcomed by all visitors and locals and the business fraternity alike.

Why, at the narrowest part of the promenade, has one of the kiosks not only managed to extend the footprint substantially "with compliments of the public at large" but has managed to turn the area into a Third World site, with all sorts of banners, sandwich boards and toy dispensing machines on the pavement which also succeeds in blocking public access, and in defiance of the council? Is it true that some are such political heavyweights that they are allowed to get away with all these infringements?

Why are the bushes on the promenade not trimmed regularly so as to allow people who are strolling along to enjoy the sea view?

Why is it that Xemxija Bay is still full of seaweed and we are now nearly at the end of May? I overheard a couple of visitors commenting how inviting the water is and pity that they could not get to it for the seaweed.

Why is it that there are a number of streets in Qawra and Buġibba still without any street lighting? And I do not mean when Enemalta have one of their now regular power cuts.

Why is it that we are ignored by St Paul's Bay council who seem to be unable to perform their duties and give Qawra and Buġibba the same standard of roads, pavements and cleanliness that they have in St Paul's Bay? Why are we treated as second-class citizens? One would expect that some who are elected to do a job and hold such public service positions in the name of serving the public, will do just that irrespective of what other personal commitments they might have.

After all the Mellieħa local council seems to be doing OK for its residents, why not St Paul's Bay's? Perhaps, the secretariat would now like to write to The Times again and answer my questions.