A day in the life of Tigné Seafront resident
The state Sliema is the subject of several complaints, ranging from vendors on the seafront to unsightly signs, advertising the food that is being served in restaurants. Fiona Galea Debono follows Wilfried Tops through the trials and tribulations he experiences in a single day in the major tourist and commercial centre. The Dutchman has been visiting Malta since 1986, becoming a Maltese resident on retirement three years ago.
7 a.m. Mr Tops may not have planned such an early start but he has no say in the matter. He is woken up by a drilling noise from one of the many building sites in the area. He must have dreamt that excavation is not allowed in tourist areas during the summer!
7.15 a.m. Since sleeping in is not possible in this part of the world, Mr Tops opts for an early morning swim. But he gets wet way before he reaches the sea! Stepping out of the front door, Mr Tops gets splashed by a car that is racing through the waterlogged potholes in the road. Luckily, he is wearing his swimming trunks. He is told it is only “rainwater” but it is milky in colour and smells of sewage.
7.30 a.m. Walking down the stairs to the jetty opposite his apartment to take the plunge, he is welcomed by the pungent smell of urine. The sea does not look too inviting either, full as it is with floating paper napkins, plastic cups and leftovers, possibly thrown into the water from the party boats moored further on. Mr Tops walks towards Tigné Point in the hope the debris has not arrived there yet. While passing by the five-star hotel in the area, he slips and almost falls. Someone is cleaning the pool deck with a water hose, spraying everything the guests left behind into the sea.
7.45 a.m. Mr Tops arrives at the beach under Tigné Point, which he describes as “the neighbourhood’s favourite canine playground” because it is littered with dog excrement.
8.15 a.m. He returns home for breakfast on his balcony but as he cleans the table he is horrified to find the cloth is turning greyish black due to the pollution.
9 a.m. While reading the newspaper, a noisy concrete mixer, working on a major development at the top of the road, tries to reverse at the busy corner into Ċensu Xerri Street, holding up several hooting cars. It has barely driven off when a second arrives and parks on the corner, waiting for the first to return after it has unloaded. This goes on until 11.45 a.m., by which time Mr Tops is fed up of the unbearable noise and exhaust fumes, so he decides to confront the warden. He is told to mind his own business: the lorries have a permit.
12 p.m. Having been firmly put in his place, Mr Tops flees from his noisy and polluted balcony.
3.15 p.m. He returns home for an afternoon nap but has barely dozed off when no less than 15 minibuses and a further six coaches arrive to collect foreign students. The buses are either early, or the students late, because 45 minutes later the passengers have still not yet boarded. While the vehicles are parked and blocking the whole street, the drivers take a break under the few trees on the seafront, leaving their noisy engines and air conditioners running. Deafened and practically suffocated by the diesel fumes, spewed out of 21 vehicles, Mr Tops goes to have a word with the drivers. Needless to say, he does not get very far. Introducing himself as a “desperate resident, trying to enjoy some peace and quiet”, he is told he should not have come to the busiest area.
5 p.m. Mr Tops retreats and needs to calm his nerves after the exchange. He closes his balcony door to spend the rest of the evening inside.
11.30 p.m. While fast asleep, Mr Tops suddenly has the impression a discotheque has opened right next to his bed. But it is only two overcrowded party boats passing by. He begins to wish he too was a student – they seem to have all their wishes catered for.
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Karen Zammit Manduca
Aug 28th 2010, 17:05
I emphatise with Mr Tops, but suggest that he tours the islands to see that he is not alone!
He should come to a certain little cul-de-sac in Swieqi, supposed to be a Residential Priority Area and where once people paid lots of money to purchase property which has been turned into a slum due to non-enforcement of laws and total lack of care from the Local Council.
There are garbage bags on the pavements at any time of day or night, including weekends, New Year's Eve etc, the mobile disco comes and goes at all hours of day and night, it is a haven for dog owners who don't clean up after their pets and includes a very special feature on most days of the week, and operating both in Summer and in Winter......a special water fountain......if you park you car in a particular place in the street, you can have the car washed for free with water containing bleach, Rexoguard and other cleansers!!! Oh, and I forgot the dust and constant noise from building sites in the vicinity.....the noisy students in the early hours of the morning.......
Lynn Zahra
Aug 27th 2010, 17:47
@M.J.Buttiegig
Gozo is peaceful but some Gozitans can be very noisy like my Gozitan neighbour in Ghajnsielem who woke me up at 2am speaking loudly on her mobile, on returning from the pre-festa celebrations . How about Gozo Ferry "Captain" who walks half a mile to park his car and speaks loudly on the phone in a very very quite street, without any concern for the neighbours?
By the way, what would you Gozitans do without the Maltese daytrippers and Maltese "tourists" eh?
R.Borg
Aug 27th 2010, 17:29
"A day in the life of Tigne' Seafront resident."
Thanks.
Noted.
The author should now write another article:
"A day and a night in the life of Sir Luigi Preziosi Street resident."
Perhaps the article might rid the many disgruntled residents of this street overlooking the harbour in Floriana of heavy vehicles (trucks, containers, etc).
Wishful thinking!!!!
A.E. Camilleri
Aug 27th 2010, 17:15
We all know what a mess this part of Sliema is in, even more than the rest of the town. One of the main reasons undoubtedly, is the Sliema Local Council. It either has far too much in its hands, or are an incapable lot, or else our Councils do not have enough power to enforce certain regulations. That is where either Government, or MEPA or the ADT, or the Police are responsible. Whatever the reason, we know that the Sliema Local Council is in a mess (irrespective of the reason/s), Government does not seem to interfere, MEPA in a super power, and the ADT and Police are "simply too occupied". Wake up Sliema residents! Time is of the essence. Protest, in full force!
J S Borg
Aug 27th 2010, 16:39
@Mark Vella I think that you are joking telling him to try and settle in Attard. Yes one day it was peaceful but nowadays is pieceful. Developers are buying house, which mind these are not so large, and building rabbit hutches, we have cranes allover the place also with the of building you can say goodbye to your solar heating system, photovoltaic as well as Tv reception.
If it happens that they are building next door they have all the blessings from the local authorities to damage your garden as well as your property. Please do not mention legal action because that is another big joke. H'Attard with funny building heights in a row in the same street. But I forgot that we have MEPA.
Jon Vercellono
Aug 27th 2010, 16:12
Once upon a time, there was a councillor in Sliema who addressed these problems and attempted to sort a coordinated plan of attack out for the benefit of all. In 2009 he was not elected, much to the resident's detriment - in other words, you kind of got what you deserved.
Lynn Zahra
Aug 27th 2010, 14:12
you must be deaf mela Vince!
And lucky you don't live at the Strand where a ten floor edifice is being bult next to BOV.
where the workmen wake us up at 6.45 and sometimes even at 5am.
There is no respite for us residents from the noise of the diggers and concrete mixers, never mind the traffic jams caused by mixers manuvering into Annunciation street corner with the Strand its' pure chaos.
Mr.Tops, you should have opted for a place in blissful Gozo.
M..J.Buttigieg
Aug 27th 2010, 16:28
No thankyou Lynn Gozo is peaceful and we don't want a repetition of Malta thankyou verymuch....in otherwords let the Maltese stay where they are and visit us only on weekends but bring some cash then return back to Malta. This is a tranquil and peaceful island, lets keep it that way eh?
W Spencer
Aug 27th 2010, 20:35
Gozo a peaceful place.......yeah right !!
Cranes, cement mixers, building workers cutting stones as early as 6.15am, foreign waiters / waitresses coming in from work at 2.30 / 3 am and having a loud " after work " chill-out, dogs barking 24 / 7, loud neighbours...yes they are here in Gozo as well.
Melanie Cassar
Aug 27th 2010, 12:25
At least he can go back to his country. The local residents cannot.
Mark Vella
Aug 27th 2010, 11:46
Mr Tops, you're a very patient man if you've been living in Malta for three years (and visiting since 1986) and haven't left still.. Would suggest Mdina (the silent city) or even the attard/balzan/lija area if you're after peace and quiet. Sliema is obviously developing into a busy place and I don't think you can really accept peace and quiet over there! It's like me going to live in a big city (Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, New York) and expecting peace and quiet and little birds chirping happily in the trees!
M Grima
Aug 27th 2010, 14:33
You have no idea of what you are talking about and have never lived in a big City. I challenge you to go and live in London,and that includes Piccadilly Circus, and notice any of the things mentioned in the article or comments,except perhaps for the buzz of people going about their noiseless business, Take this from someone who has lived in a few big Cities.
A. Saliba
Aug 27th 2010, 16:55
M Grima you don't know what you're talking about. These things are commonplace in ultra-dense construction zones/tourist hot spots everywhere. In fact, they're worse.
Nyal Xuereb
Aug 27th 2010, 10:59
That is only half of the story. What about the smells, noise, double parking everywhere, dust, etc.... I used to live in Qui-Si-Sana Seafront, not far from where this picture is taken and I was forced to leave. I could not take it any more. The worst were the bars and restaurants closing very late, paying loud music and their clients out on the pavement shouting and making a whole racket in the early hours of the morning. All this when MEPA's local plans stipulate that that area is a residential one. Sliema is just minutes away from becoming the next Paceville.
D Vella
Aug 27th 2010, 10:47
@ Vince Galea,
If you wish to continue living in your own hell,you are welcome to but don't expect me to enjoy it as well. Go to a civilised Country,live there for a while and then come back and tell us how posy you still think this third rate Island is. You live in a garbage can if you but knew it.
M Debono
Aug 27th 2010, 10:39
Dirty beaches,dirty streets,dirty sea(sea water always yellow and dusty from builders still dumping in the sea) illegal building to heights which are not in original plans, ordinary owners adding washrooms with out permits, beer cans plastic everywhere you look,cat food put down by well meaning but misguided people,rats,pollution from traffic and builders,noise from cars and machinery, dirty apartments from the all invading dust and cement. noise galore,smells and bells,getting wet from air conditioners left to pump their water onto streets or housewifes washing balconies and sweeping water through those silly pipes on the balcony floor,overfilled postboxes,windy streets in Winter to unbearably hot streets in Summer due to lack of planning ,dark streets,parties into the night,noisy neighbours 24/7 ,oil on rocks...could go on but I won't..in short anarchy reigns in Qui Si Sana/Tigne.. a microcosm of what goes on in the rest of the Island I dare say..and yet..and yet..we are continually being told we have never had it so good. We have become so used to corruption,not just monetary though that too,that it passes us by and we accept it without batting an eyelid. No one to complain to,Government/Council,,MEPA all have their agenda and it doesn't include the Citizen.
R Grima
Aug 27th 2010, 15:18
I came across an elderly lady who slipped on a wet pavement due to water from air conditioners dripping down on to the street,(the pavement consisted of bits of slippery tiles posing as a pavement). When I told her to complain,she said she would refrain from doing so but offer her pain to 'God'. The logic behind that response escapes me.I wanted to tell her she was mad,but refrained.I could have told her to complain to the Police or to the council if she didn't want to face the owners,but in my heart of hearts I knew it wouldn't do any good. Quiet desperation/resignation seems to be the way. The lady may well go to heaven quicker than she thought , and by not complaining ,she may well be responsible for sending others to their deserved but far too early rest. God will not be pleased.
Karl Consiglio
Aug 27th 2010, 09:58
You should check out 'A day in the life of Paceville resident'
vince galea
Aug 27th 2010, 09:50
x'ghageb!!! I live in a seafront apartment all year round u qatt m' ghamilt dan l-istorbju kollu. U ejja!!
kevin vassallo
Aug 27th 2010, 10:56
''I live in a seafront apartment all year round u qatt m' ghamilt dan l-istorbju kollu''....but is your apartment in Tigne? Surely not, otherwise you would certainly sympathise with residents there (as with those in other areas such as Paceville). I for one, can vouch that what is said in the artisle is true....nay....its incomplete. No mention was made of the Lidos at Qui-si-sana, in particluar 'Lotus Lido' which is regularly organisaing open air discos with loud music that reaches afar .... at least reports to the Sliema Police Station do not fall on deaf ears. They do come by and stop the show but 20 minutes after they leave its back to square one !
John Falzon
Aug 27th 2010, 12:34
Mr.Galea – It’s a question of standards!...it seems that yours are different!