My wife and I tend to spend considerable time in Gozo enjoying its scenery and serenity as well as admiring the locals who always seem to be so happy despite their simple lifestyle.

Gozo is very picturesque and areas like Xlendi are really beautiful both at daytime and in the evening when one can enjoy the sunset over a drink by the water’s edge. The villages are so tranquil and many of them offer so much to walkers and to those who love to explore by car.

The local councils are doing a great job in improving the overall ambience of the areas they are responsible for, however they fall short when it comes to tidying up the streets and pavements in their localities.

I am not talking about lack of cleanliness but of tidiness: semi-demolished walls, stone slabs on pavements, abandoned items like car wheels, tyres, debris, wild plants by pavements, etc.

If only local councils could dedicate a week of clearance in all localities as well as asking for the residents’ cooperation through the assistance of the local parishes. Gozo will then breathe a sigh of relief.

The island is so attractive as it is but it can be so much more beautiful if tidied up. This undertaking will entail no great cost; it only needs initiative and commitment by all concerned.