With all eyes focused on the key issues affecting the country right now and with an election looming it means that attention is being diverted away from peripheral concerns in places such as Gozo.

However, there is one pressing need that is not peripheral to the people who have invested in seafront property in Marsalforn. As I write this, the sea is pounding in relentlessly and our building shudders every few seconds or so, literally, as if we are suffering a series of earth tremors. Goodness knows what it will be like come winter proper. And there is only so much that buildings like ours can take before structural damage ensues.

The breakwater that did a job of sorts to prevent the heavy seas that are threatening us has been damaged for years and the Government has long been promising to replace it. In fact, we were expecting some works to take place in May. But nothing doing. And no mention of why. Could it be because there is a grander plan to refurbish the seafront generally and that it has been bogged down in bureaucracy?

Or has the budget allocation been withdrawn?

But the danger is now. The people who sit in ivory towers appear to have little idea of the urgency of the threat to which we are exposed here.

Therefore, I appeal to the authorities: put the bigger picture aside for a moment and just get on with the immediate need to protect Marsalforn. It is your responsibility to do so and you should be seen to be doing your job. The voters expect nothing less.