Drastic changes are being made to the planning of the City Gate garden ditch. As a prelude to making changes to an environmental project already scheduled to be fulfilled, politicians often invent excuses that lead to confused thinking. It is definitely a glaring blunder. In this case government says it needs to save €1.9 million. As if asphalting the ditch does not involve any money.

Valletta is well served with parking spaces within the city or nearby. Why does it need more?

Politicians condemn themselves when they argue that the money ‘saved’ will help them bridge the shortfall for the main project. Their mismanagement is their mistake. It should not be the public to pay for their blunders.

The health and pleasure of a public garden is no less essential than that of Mdina or the Argotti or the ‘Milorda’ gardens of Floriana. To rub a sore wound, even the proposed square around the Triton fountain is being suspended. Lord, forgive them for they know not what they are doing!

Must the City Ditch Garden be the price paid in pandering to the wishes of the business community? Must politicians clamour for sudden changes to comply with the wishes of councillors and their constituents? The national interest will carry more prestige than electoral votes. Architectural beauty, environmental embellishments and public health are the heirlooms that future generations and tourists will appreciate.

It is no consolation to say that the collection of water will not be affected in creating a car park. Of course it will. Rainwater mixed with leaking diesel residue is contaminated water.

Environmental NGOs will be up in arms. They do not tolerate the erratic decisions of politicians who ignore the wisdom of international planners they had employed.