It seems that here in Malta one is keen in pointing fingers at the authorities for the state of our country but one is not that willing to take a look within to see whether we are all contributing towards having a clean environment.

There is apparently no problem for one to dispose of bulky refuse anywhere, or to put one's garbage in the street outside collection hours, or to leave garbage next to filled skips when everyone is supposed to know the collection hours and that one is provided with a free collection service of bulky refuse. It seems alright to throw papers, wrappers and cigarette butts in the street, or to have our pets dirty the roads, or to vandalise traffic signs and mirrors or public gardens. Only last week one of our so-called tourists left his "mark" on the pavement just outside my very house.

It seems to be alright to overtake cars, go on the wrong side of the road and crash into oncoming traffic but then one reads articles that, in this case, blame the ADT; even the Labour trying to gain political mileage over a recent road incident.

One does not read articles against law breakers but then one reads a barrage of letters against local councils for not keeping the localities clean. If everyone does one's very best not to pollute the environment in any way then local councils will have more time and money available and will be able to focus their energies and finances on other causes.

Finally, in reply to a letter by Matthew Bezzina, may I ask Mr Bezzina whether in three weeks he mentioned, he took any steps to report the matter to the authorities concerned?

(The author is a local councillor.)