As a country we are so proud that Dwejra has been acknowledged by Unesco as having ‘outstanding universal value’. Indeed, pictures of the place appear prominently on every single tourist brochure produced locally. And, yet, what we have made of it is a common parking lot for greedy operators.

While all those who have visited the place know what a mess we have made of the parking site next to the Azure Window, few may be aware of the other mess down by the inland sea, accessible only through a very narrow opening giving on to a pebbled beach. I counted some 50 vehicles down there one morning recently, many actually parked right on the pebbled beach. The photo I took shows only one corner of it. This is what the World Heritage site looks like today.

Why do they need to go all the way down when there is ample parking on the higher level? Some chauffeur-driven jeeps simply come down, squeeze into a spot, stay there for a few minutes and then reverse.

What sort of an image are tourists taking back with them? And does anyone spare a thought for the many locals whose ‘domain’ it has been for generations?

I’m sure this happens in other spots across the islands. Where are the authorities? Is this the only way we know how to ‘showcase’our islands?

Nature has left these beautiful islands in our care to nurture for future generations and not to give away our best sites to the few for a fast buck.