On the Dot

• Notabile Road, Mrieħel, undoubtedly one of the most-used thoroughfares in the country, has finally been completed, at least for the time being. Yet, funds appear to have dried up when it came to replacing, or at least refurbishing, the bus shelter a few metres away from the roundabout. This shows a sheer lack of foresightedness. Incidentally, will it take another fatal accident before a zebra crossing or traffic lights are installed in the general area?

Moneyed

• The press reports that Malta has spent only a fraction of money available to EU member states from the European Social Fund. At the current rate, by the time the monies are no longer accessible in 2013, Malta is expected to have spent less than 20 per cent. It would be indeed a pity were these funds allowed to disappear into thin air when there is obviously so much that could be done with them. Is it a question of red tape or is it that the people supposed to be doing the research and paperwork need to pull their socks up?

Result

• Why is it that there is such a small interval between the receipt of the results of the Matsec A level examinations and the closing date of applications for MCAST courses? Some of the students sitting for the examinations might have thought they had done badly, and sought a job; however, the results obtained might make them eligible for a course other than that for which they had originally applied.

Fielded

• Quite a while ago, the Sliema football nursery abandoned the five-a-side football pitches on the University grounds for new premises acquired in Tigné. Since then, these pitches have been allowed to deteriorate, without even perfunctory lighting. It was inevitable that they would become a place for rowdy, vulgar gangs of children to congregate. Unfortunately, all too often their footballs end up landing on legally parked cars in University Street, causing damage. The wire netting has also been torn and vandalised. Residents request that appropriate measures be taken to stop this nuisance forthwith.

Reciprocating

• A complaint was registered with the Consumer and Competition Division in November 2009 on the session before the tribunal took place in May 2010. To date, there still has been no conclusion to the case. Whereas it must be said that the system is well organised, the delay to achieve closure is not very encouraging.

Waters

• A straw poll of people queuing up for anything up to five hours at the ARMS offices at Luqa would seem to indicate that the absolute majority of them are there because of blatant errors in the billing process. Even households that have smart meters find the consumption indicated on the meter itself does not tally with that indicated in the bill sent because estimates are slapped on willy-nilly. The public needs more than an apology. It needs positive action so that this rigmarole will stop, once and for all.

Concluded

• It is nearly time to file end-of-season VAT returns. However, a letter asking for the waiving of a fine has been acknowledged but not answered. This makes people filing their returns uneasy because they do not know whether the penalty will have to be paid.

Shopping

• Every so often, the press carries features or articles about how queuing for specials at particular franchises results in the near loss of life and limb. This is pathetic; the supply ought to meet demand. Or is it just that Malta is being landed with the offers from abroad that are not sold in the country of origin? It is easy to see how the same chains offer different items, besides the locally-offered ones, simply by tuning in to an Italian television channel that regularly broadcasts these advertisements.

Uncaring

• A teenager called at an outlet in Valletta to shorten the band of a designer watch purchased from abroad and that had just been given to him as a gift. The person manning the shop refused, saying the watch was not purchased from there, even though it was of the same make the same outlet is renowned for!

Booked

• Why is it that the Logos Hope floating bookshop chose to enter at Valletta Waterfront just when school started? Is it not too much short notice for schools to fix their outings calendar, unless the relative administrations would have worked on this beforehand? Why bet on inclement weather when the scholastic year in Malta lasts well into a period when the weather – and sea conditions – may be relied upon?

Televised

• Despite the fact that legal experts warn that satellite or internet-based television connections might be breaching the Copyright Act, the fact remains that nearly one-third of Maltese households use these systems. Is this not ample proof that local service providers are not doing their utmost to provide a service to consumers? This is also explained by the fact that many households have more than one type of connection at home, probably owing to the recent ruckus obtaining from the channels upon which the World Cup football matches had been available.

Drugged

• Yet another medication has been pulled off the shelves for being linked to terrible side effects. In this case it was a medication taken for the control of diabetes mellitus and the side effect was an increased risk of heart attack. This comes in the wake of news that the EU will soon ban the use of natural substances used in traditional and herbal medicines and in disciplines such as homeopathy and other remedies. The reliance on manufactured preparations sometimes overlooks the benefit to be derived from simpler ways of protecting patients by providing a different type of clinical care.