It’s bigger... it’s louder... it’s back

This is what the Club Numero Uno is promising residents of Attard, Lija and Mosta for September 10: another sleepless night with blaring noise and throbbing base till the early hours of the morning. Yes, this esteemed establishment is now blatantly advertising its events with the guarantee that they will be even louder than before.

It is inconceivable how the authorities are completely ignoring the legitimate pleas by citizens living in this area and allowing the owner to ride roughshod over their basic right to peace and quiet during the night.

Anyone who has bothered reporting Club Numero Uno to the police in the early hours of the morning is well aware how pathetic their response is. They will tell you that Club Numero Uno and Gianpula have the permit to operate till 4 a.m. and that they are helpless to do anything about the situation. This is, of course, completely incorrect and is just a convenient excuse for the police to remain passive. The permit to open till 4 a.m. does not entail disturbing the public peace and depriving thousands of people of their sleep.

It appears that, for some reason or other, our forces of law and order would rather look the other way and pounce on softer targets, such as an immature youth skinny dipping during the night hours. I am sure the quality of life of many people will improve if Club Numero Uno organisers and their clients follow that youth’s example and leave the rest of us in blissful slumber. It is high time this abuse comes to an end and that clubs are forced to either soundproof their establishments or else to turn off their noise at 11 p.m.

The law should take a clear stand on such fundamental issues and, if there are any lacunae that are impeding the course of justice, then it is up to Malta’s Numero Uno to establish that, in a democracy, citizens’ rights can be protected from the likes of Club Numero Uno’s transgressions.