On the Dot

Some wardens are fast proving themselves hobby bobbies. A case in point is the one who spoke loudly, harshly, arrogantly and condescendingly to an 87-year-old person who was fresh out of hospital after a delicate operation and the relative taking her home. They had not noticed the warden on duty, at Rudolph Street, Sliema where entry was restricted owing to road-works in the vicinity. At one point, he tried writing the driver’s ID card number on the palm of his hand. The incident happened on January 26.

Babied

The people lobbying in favour of embryo freezing are trying to play on people’s emotions by saying this is done to safeguard the possibility of subsequent pregnancies should the first child(ren) be miscarried. This implies that if the baby is carried to term and lives, and the couple does not want any more children, the frozen embryos will then be extraneous. What will happen to them is anyone’s guess.

Destinations

Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s comments about how Malta should embark on an aggressive publicity campaign to headhunt tourists who were meaning to go to Tunisia and Egypt were variously met with humour, incredulity, anger and passivity. British travel agencies have already jumped on the bandwagon and have been offering budget packages since the start of the troubles but without making a song and dance about it.

Truancy

Despite studies and statistics galore, the fact remains several children play truant from school and nothing is ever done about it. No wonder there is such a high rate of illiteracy in students of school-leaving age. Inner harbour areas appear to be smitten with this blight more than other areas. Has any study been done to ascertain why this happens? Are any initiatives being taken to further the education of these children by alternative means, rather than formal schooling?

Volunteering

Many people complain that there is “nothing to do” after work and spend their time watching television or at entertainment venues. They would be surprised to learn that almost each NGO extant regularly sends out calls for volunteers. People can offer their time and/or talents as according to their preferences. Some entities even allow one to work from home.

Planted

It would seem that some trees are more equal than others. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has given the go-ahead for the trees to be uprooted and planted at Ta’ Qali, even though they might easily have been incorporated into the final designs of the City Gate project. One wonders why the same ill-luck has not struck the trees in the immediate area of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, which are doubtlessly causing insidious damage to its foundations.

Courting

It is already bad enough that people have to wait years for their cases to be called to court and then hours to be called into the sitting once they are inside the building. Nowadays there is a third kind of queue. Security checks are mandatory and this means people have to queue while they are allowed in, one by one. How long will it be before those who are consequently late for sittings are fined for contempt of court?

Childcare

A section of the press reported how low-income or single-parent families cannot afford childcare for their young children. The so-called vicious circle was the reason, and the excuse, the parent(s) could not seek a better-paid job with lesser working hours. Perhaps it is time for the state to step in and introduce childcare centres for those who plead they cannot pay private enterprises.

Medications

We are regularly informed of medicines that now cost less than they used to. However, most people would prefer for there to be all types of medication available at government pharmacies, even if they have to be bought by patients. It is annoying to be told some medicines are out of stock or to have to traipse from one’s local clinic to Mater Dei Hospital in order to obtain basic medications such as those for asthma.

Rains

Why is it that even less than one inch of rain should cause such havoc in these islands? Is it that drains are not regularly cleaned of sludge and street debris, such that they are blocked or can take a lesser volume of water? It is both unhealthy and annoying to have to breathe in the smell of sewage – let alone pass through it in one’s car or, worse, on foot.

Criminality

No one will deny that children – which the Constitution defines as anyone under 18 years of age – who are sent to the Corradino Correctional Facility do not exit there as perfect examples of youth but, rather, as jaded, tainted adolescents. It is about time young offenders were remanded in a different facility and, as Appoġġ head Sina Buġeja insists, treated differently from habitual offenders.

Windward

It’s official: the Mellieħa offshore area known as Is-Sikka l-Bajda is large enough for a wind farm to be established. Next, no doubt, will follow an environmental impact assessment and then will come the process of issuing of tenders, submissions of plans and so forth. The important question is, however: when can we look forward to a fully-functioning venture for this type of sustainable energy?

Fencing

The Gold Onion Award of the year should go to the person and/or entity that allowed the pavement near the War Memorial, in Floriana to be fenced off without providing a safe passage for pedestrians. Who will shoulder the responsibility should, God forbid, somebody be run over?