Recently there has been a lot of talk about ‘culture’ in Malta and how highly regarded it is. May I ask what sort of ‘culture’ is this when anything attractive is removed and replaced with nothing but open spaces, apparently so beloved by our modern planners, now reaching its zenith with the plans for Castille Place.

What on earth does our capital city want with another large area of nothing, or rather, nothing with some hideous bits and pieces added. Are there beautiful flower beds, baroque lamp standards, things to make the visitor or resident say “oh how beautiful”?

No, just a big empty space for no reason other than to offer a clear view of the grain silos across the harbour, nicely screened at present by the island of trees in the centre.

What sort of ‘culture’ allows all this money to be spent, while many of the country’s roads, such as those in the Żabbar and Żejtun area, and many others, are no better than cart tracks in a third world country. It seems that any excuse to impress visitors can be funded, like the run-up to CHOGM. Will these visitors be driven over our potholes and crumbling roads? I think not.

What sort of ‘culture’ allows hundreds of local stone houses to be pulled down and replaced with mundane cement structures, ruining streetscapes which were once part of Malta’s beauty and heritage.

This country is smaller than a major world city. If those at the helm cannot manage to get the basic infrastructure right then surely their efforts should be targeted at getting the basics right, before spending millions of our euros on grandiose, snobbish fantasies to prove how ‘cool’ they are.

Considering our size we should have the most advanced country in Europe with immaculate roads and perfect living conditions. If the people in charge can’t manage to do this, then they should resign and make way for people who can.