Charles Micallef, Qawra
Works that St Paul’s Bay residents expect to see
I refer to the letter by Kevin J. Drake, director, communications and PR, Malta Tourism Authority (October 23).
The residents of St Paul’s Bay and district as well as the business community in the area, including hotel owners/operators, would welcome a list of proposed upgrades and urgent repairs that are necessitated by the many years of total neglect in the area. These works are required in order to make our roads, pavements and parts of the promenade “safe” for the public, the old and infirm to use. What are also badly needed are tourist information booths (perhaps peak season only) as well as some public toilets in the vicinity of the Qawra bus station.
With all due respect, Mr Drake’s reply to Oliver Mallia and Reuben Chircop sounds more like a belated joint publicity campaign on behalf of MTA, Transport Malta, the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs and the local council in this “model village” of ours where some cosmetic works were completed last June in a matter of a few days and which were followed up by the usual political publicity stunt which was meant to make things right overnight.
This would have had the desired effect some 30 years ago but we have all grown up since! I also refer to the couple of roads which were left for many years reminiscent of “walking on the moon” and were resurfaced last June. Again with all due respect, the pavements for these same roads have been left in as a dangerous state as they were before the resurfacing.
What is so badly needed in this area is that the Blue Flag status is awarded to the resort as a whole and is managed to the same standards as the few square metrrs of the perched beach! It happens in similar resorts abroad, why not in Malta?
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Michael Scicluna
Oct 30th 2010, 21:53
Politics apart when Bugibba and Qawra was revamped there was the Bugibba Action Committee why was it removed, the chairmen then occupies a high post in the MTA maybe he can rejuvenate this BAC and lets have someone who is hands on and knows what the place needs. We need a Resort Manager very quickly. Regarding Rubbish collection the people who put it out after the collector has passed and especially on Saturday afternoon which has to wait till Monday to be collected, these people should be taken care of or at least educated. Just what the people need education and enforcement, if there is anyone to do it.
Michael Scicluna
Oct 30th 2010, 21:51
While I agree with Mr Micallef and all those who has St Paul’s Bay and it's peripherals to there heart. I welcome Mr Drake’s comments about forthcoming projects long overdue. Politics apart, why were the benches along Islet promenade painted in August, already in need of doing up again, why the Balustrade along Xemxija Promenade have never been painted except two or three near a catering establishment, why the soft areas are so neglected, one roundabout has been mowed four weeks ago and still not planted because the plants have not arrived yet, another in the same state still surrounded with chicken wire and not planted, two palm trees have been missing for over two years on the Burmarrad roundabout. Before we had a council a road sweeper used to come round every day of the week Monday to Friday, now he should come every four weeks, I lost count of the weeks since I saw one to have the street swept where I live and every where else. I would appreciate that we have more action with facts and less talk on paper.
Gino Schiavone
Oct 30th 2010, 17:46
Nobody accused the council of St.Paul's Bay- this is a drive to be brought about by various stakeholders to upgrade St.Paul's Bay area. One point I would like to make about rubbish is that no service provider passes through Triq Il-Parrocca to collect rubbish- except after the Feast in summer- then yes the scammel will be able to pass- to collect the massive rubbish from a certain bar. So if residents are to feel pride and feel responsible let the people responsible show us first that they care about the locality and no street is left without a rubbish service provider- if the scammel does not ant to pass at least the collectors can send someone by walk through and collect it. Rubbish is not the only issue to embellish- there are other points as mentioned in my former comment.
Charles Micallef
Oct 30th 2010, 14:35
@ Gino Cassar,
May I refer you to my contribution of last (Back Issues) Tuesday 26th October
"Simple Way to Solve the Litter Problem"...
one way to reduce the litter problem that works very well abroad.....!
C Cassar
Oct 30th 2010, 15:04
Your letter is on the right lines but it's the residential streets that make up most of a town/village. The Maltese seem to refuse to touch anything that isn't within their household. I'd like to hear from some St Pauls residents (who I'm sure read the Times and this blog) and ask why they don't make the simplest of efforts to improve where they live? In fact the question is relevant to any Maltese because it's the same everywhere. Frequently I'll pick up between 5-10 items a day and put them in the nearest bin. I was once asked by a passer by "What are you doing that for, you work for the council?" I replied "No, I don't" which brought a further reply "Then why are you doing that?". When I explained that if everyone did the same 100,000s of items would be cleared up each day with no real effort. The passer by simply looked at me blankly and walked away without comment.
You see, this is the attitude in Malta - It's always someone elses job to do anything, particularly when it comes to the environment.
Just takes a few mins a day, nothing more.
Charles Micallef
Oct 30th 2010, 15:40
@ Gino Cassar
I lived in Qawra for the past 20 yrs or so, and if you along Tourist Street , the area outside the Car Museum you will find nothing but plastic bags and take away cartoons that litter under the pavement curb. The residential units in the areas are apartments with insignificant entrance areas at ground floor levels, hence there is very little litter that is accumulated from the residents,,,,!aw
C Cassar
Oct 30th 2010, 16:17
but when the residents come out of their apartments they see rubbish directly outside in their streets. Why don't they simply pick up a few items, a few papers etc and put them in the bins? That would clear the area up overnight and then the residents themselves would take a little more pride in the area. Once an area is clean, it's psycholigically harder for people to throw rubbish, especially when the locals are vigilant after making an effort themselves.
It's not really rocket science but simply residents taking ownership of where they live.
I'm still waiting to hear from any Maltese residents why they ignore the litter in their streets without making a simple effort of picking it up and putting it in the nearest bin (which is usually only a few metres away). Anyone?
Gino Schiavone
Oct 30th 2010, 11:32
Definitely St.Paul's Bay needs an upgrade in all senses. There are no proper safe playgrounds where children can play freely- the playground near the primary school is an eyesore and unsafe. When an activity is organised like the mini Carnival, business play areas are brought over as there are no play areas. The rubbish left about early morning is not in proper bags and you can see liquids filtrating out and onto the pavement which costs thousands to the government. Too shabby itself near the rocks, no clear ways and signs around these areas. But I must say well done to the lines in the sea denoting bathing zones- making it safer for all. the artificial beach should be next to the ta'L-Ghazzenin area with a proper promenade, good railings and well lit. St.Pauls area needs to attract families and therefore family friendly needs must be at hand. Otherwise change completely the market to be attracted there and make it for the elderly tourists- all the more good need for pavements and different types of leisure areas- like gardens etc
C Cassar
Oct 30th 2010, 12:58
The rubbish and mess you see is the direct result of the locals living in St Pauls Bay. Bags of rubbish being left out all day/night, litter being thrown on the streets and from cars, you can see this each day. Blaming the council for it is the easy option but not the solution. Why don't the locals take any pride in there area? Why doesn't anyone pick up a few pieces of rubbish and put them into the bins, which are plenty? If everyone did this the place would improve significantly overnight. Instead, people refuse to lift a finger and continue to bleat on about the local authority.
The real problem are the residents of St Pauls Bay (and many other areas) not being prepared to donate even 5 mins a day/week of their time to clean up the area. Nothing will change until the culture of local residents changes. How many times have we all seen residents weeping rubbish from their own homes directly out onto the street and into the road/gutter?