I congratulate all who took part in Sunday’s marathon – a big achievement which will make all the participants feel proud whenever they look back on it.

It’s rather unfair though, that because of the marathon, the rest of us were denied access to Valletta. I was on my way to Valletta to attend a talk which I was looking forward to. Traffic was slow due to lanes being closed off for the runners. I did not mind this and followed the diversion signs when I reached a point where the direct route to Valletta was closed off, but still found myself in a lane where police were directing traffic away from Valletta. When I enquired how I could get to Valletta I was told to try going via Marsa, but that Valletta was closed anyway. I had no choice but to return home. I felt sorry for the police too, as they bore the brunt of frustrated motorists trying to get into the capital.

Surely these types of events could be organised in such a way that those who wish to participate can enjoy their chosen pursuit while also allowing everyone else to get on with their plans. Don’t we all have as much right as anyone else to choose what we want to do and where we wish to go without being prevented from doing so by others who are given the freedom and means to enjoy their own choices?

I imagine that businesses in Valletta that open on Sundays were none too pleased either that potential clients were unable to visit their establishments because they could not enter Valletta.