I love Malta but having spent 38 years abroad I can’t help but compare the island to more civilised places where I have lived.

First, owning a car in Malta is a liability as there are no city car parks anywhere except Valletta. In England, Singapore and even Benghazi there was no trouble going shopping, as one parked one’s car safely in a recognised car park and did not bat about aimlessly looking for a parking place. Why doesn’t the government recognise this deficiency in our towns and villages and instead of concentrating on building high-rise towers, think of the residents and try to make life comfortable for them?

Sliema is the worst possible place to own a car. I for one flout the law all the time, double parking and so on, as there is no other way to do my shopping. The authorities must do something about the lack of car parks soon. Imagine 1,000 more cars in Sliema if these towers were ever built! The place would be choked with traffic and there would be a breakdown of order in our once pretty town.

My second point is the round-the-island cruises. I had a bad experience with one opertor when I took our in-laws who hail from Germany – that beautifully organised country – and was embarrassed when it came to having lunch on board. There was a poor buffet serving, limp ham, tired tomatoes and lettuce, etc. Dessert was the smallest orange or apple you ever saw! Miserable really.

Friends of mine related their experience with another company. They were given a black plastic tray covered with cellophane under which was a wodge of bigilla, some pickled vegetables, bruschetta and some other poor fare. The wine was fit to be thrown overboard.

Why must we treat tourists like this? They come here to have a good time but they return to their countries telling them about our deficient services. With a little effort and cost we can remedy these meals. For the price paid we would expect better service.

I like to be proud of Malta and I encourage friends to come over but am ashamed of the meanness of these operators who find a captive audience on board and serve them shoddy meals. Let us hope that they improve their services in the future.