There is a small groundhog in a certain town in America called Penxsutawney that comes out of hibernation each year on February 2. If it is cloudy when it emerges, spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will see its own shadow, retreat into its burrow and the winter will be extended by a further six weeks.
In 1993, there was a very amusing film made about this event, starring Bill Murray, in which he was in this town reporting for a national TV station. Something went very wrong when he was asleep and, each day, when he awoke, it was identical to the day before. He knew everything that was going to happen. Nothing changed.
Nothing changed. Now where have I heard that before?
About 10 years ago I started writing articles about the state of cleanliness in our little country. This is a country that has to double up as an overcrowded residential State and a holiday destination for thousands of tourists.
When I first started writing, I was informed that there wasn’t the money to do the job of cleaning our country, especially the important touristic areas. I could see also that there wasn’t the inclination to do so and, so, things got bad, improved slightly and then got bad again.
Today, at the height of the tourist season and in the middle of our hottest months, the country is once again filthy.
Today, there is no excuse about not having money for this very important undertaking.
All these tourists, residents and expats working in Malta and Gozo must be putting millions and millions of euros into our economy. Some of this money must be channelled into the cleaning and upkeep of this hen that is laying our golden egg.
Many years ago, I suggested having special tourist priority areas all around the country that would be kept pristine in their attractiveness and cleanliness. They would have the same impact as our fabulous roundabouts are having today, an impact that proves to locals and visitors alike that Malta is beautiful and can be attractive if an effort is made to ensure it is.
Just look around our main tourism areas. They are filthy. I feel ashamed every time I have to walk through such roads. No attempt is made to clean them. Embellish them. Exercise some control. Maintain them.
We are attracting tourists, so the country must be OK, seems to be the logic.
One or two major problems faced by our competitors have helped Malta to increase the number of tourists considerably but these tourists will only come back again and recommend us to others if we make an effort ourselves.
This is where Groundhog Day slaps you in the face.
This has been said before, time and time again, and, yet, we still do nothing tangible.
Once and for all, an effective organisation must be set up that takes care of the cleanliness and upkeep of the country, especially the areas that are vital to our national income.
More people living in Malta means a potential bigger mess but it also means more income coming our way, which can be used to embellish our islands for the pleasure and pride of all concerned.
Please, no more Groundhog Days. It drove Bill Murray crazy, as it should drive all sensible Maltese too.