On the Dot

• Why does L-Istrina not allow donors the facility of using a bank account to deposit donations? People who have no cheque book have to take out one from the bank, against a payment of €3.50, which may or may not be taken away from the intended sum. Besides, a bank account would allow people to make donations throughout the year when they might have more spare cash than they do at Christmastide. This makes all the more sense now there are no prizes to be won.

Religious

• Why has the Malta Information Technology Agency (Mita) specifically banned the public service IT from receiving or sending mails or images connected with religion? If the primary reason is to avoid staff wasting time, it is clear this is not working. If it is being done not to aggravate people of different faiths, then it is worthwhile pointing out the state religion is Catholicism.

Irony

• Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali Tal-Ilsien Malti, the Maltese language national council, proudly boasts, in the latest edition of its publication, that within four years, 144 persons have attained a Maltese proofreading certificate course. One thing is sure, ironically, no University of Malta lecturer is going to require their services because students will henceforth be forbidden to reply to examination questions by presenting assignments in Maltese.

Waterfalls

• The press has gone to town reporting that the BWSC advert campaign cost taxpayers €40,000. Unfortunately, many people tend to skip full-page adverts, whether or not they agree with what is being said in them, dismissing them as propaganda. So, either way, most of the impact of this money was a lost cause before it was even spent.

Research

• Undoubtedly, University students put in thousands of man-hours conducting research for their thesis. Would it be feasible for a detailed study of topics and authors to be compiled? Persons interested in specific topics could contact those authors who indicate they would not mind should students need to consult them about a specific topic.

Havoc

• Traffic in the general area in Sliema, of which Hughes Hallett Street, Locker Street, Dragut Streets, Thornton Street and MacIver Street form part, has grown to such an extent that a management system is immediately called for. The upper section of the first road mentioned has already been turned into one-way, yet better indicators are necessary. The whole area must be similarly turned into one-way streets. Narrow roads, particularly Thornton Street, must no longer be blocked by the bowser that regularly provides water for a hotel because this makes the traffic flow seize up.

Poverty

• Those who say “real poverty” does not exist in Malta do not really know what they are saying. Poverty exists under many guises but perhaps certain people who may be in a position to take action do not do so for reasons of their own. Anyone vested with a modicum of authority must use it for the proper reasons and in the right way.

Languages

• It is ridiculous that some sections of the public service give the impression they are all out to use Maltese as their primary language and then spoil the effect by reverting to English, with odd results. A case in point is the scheme L-, where a little brain-storming would easily have come up with an alternate in the vernacular.

Writings

• A certificate or diploma in journalism will be awarded at the end of a part-time course to be offered at Mcast. These will be Malta Qualification Council (MQC)-approved and also recognised at European level. The University course in communications does not train students to become professional journalists, although this is the job most of them take up. The problem will probably be getting people who think a degree in communications is enough to enable one to work as a journalist to patronise the course.

Adventure

• Our hearts and hopes are with Thomas Cremona, who will be attempting to row across the Atlantic Ocean. Mr Cremona has done his level best to raise awareness about cancer before leaving Malta in his bid to break the world record of 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes. This momentous event will raise funds for the Puttinu Cares Foundation.

Drinking

• Despite all the awareness campaigns, people are still plying one another with “one for the road” at social events. Asked not to do this, many reply they can afford to drink because they will not be driving. One wonders whether they would be too drunk to notice their designated driver is as drunk as they are.

Branched

• The management of the Hotel InterContinental Malta chose to take the concept of saving trees by not sending cards. A total of 170 personalised trees were planted at Salina as part of the 34U campaign as a gift to clients. It would be nice to have a similar scheme where pot-planted seedlings are prepared to be given as Christmas, birthday and Easter presents, all the year round, and then planted when suitably grown.

Elections

• The party that intends to triumph in the next general election will have to promise several things about certain topics that other parties will not touch. Among these are harsh penalties for perpetrators of domestic abuse and a promise to get all the streets, which were on a list published years ago, re-surfaced, failing which, residents in the said areas will all receive a token €100 for each person in the household!