As in any country, street names are the sources that cartographers use to map the region. With the relation between the signs showing the names of the streets and the names of the streets on the map, one is able to orient oneself and locate an address.

In Malta we seem to be shy to display the signs of street names, with the consequence that many local inhabitants are unfamiliar with the names of the streets in their villages.

The street name is most often placed high up on the side of a building, faded through time and lack of maintenance or completely missing. Any tourist or person out of town seeking a particular address is given the run around before he finds where he wants to go. Any map on hand will lead to more frustration if you cannot find the corresponding sign of the street.

This attitude of neglect towards our streets probably dates to war time when we were afraid of being invaded by the enemy. As naming of our streets is part of our history we should be proud to display them in a prominent location and maintain them with the same care we show in keeping our streets clean.

After all the funds and effort spent on improving and embellishing our roads, the time has come for the ministry responsible to embark on a project to design standard sign plates for the names of all the streets, roads and alleys of our country. These signs should be placed in prominent, proper locations, at eye level, easily visible to drivers and pedestrians.

Besides being of help to familiarise local inhabitants with the streets of their village, such signage would be a courtesy to visiting tourists to orient them to their location.