I fully concur with the views expressed by Fr George Mercieca (December 3) on the cinemas in Gozo.

Living in an island deprived of commercial cinemas is quite a sour point to fathom both by us islanders as well as our foreign settlers. Apart from the Citadel and Don Bosco Oratory cinemas referred to by the correspondent, I hope the two leading band clubs of Victoria that own the Astra and Aurora theatres will also be interested in obtaining a measure of financial help from the digitisation scheme earmarked in next year’s Budget.

Both theatres have, in past years, run cinema shows on a regular basis. I gather that both societies being Gozo’s main philanthropic bodies will obviously appreciate a helping hand to restart their past cinematographic activity.

These theatres are renowned for staging annual operatic shows. The scheme in question can obviously help them adjust their coffers.