I have to point out that Roberta Zahra (The State Of St Thomas Bay, June 25), mistaken when stating that the state of this bay has deteriorated since last year. If Ms Zahra had visited the bay three years ago, she would have found it in its present state.

This is the third summer of my mayorship and during these years I have been pushing, pressuring, cajoling and begging the authorities concerned to do their duty and to start to take care of our scenic bay. But alas, to no avail.

All our protests, suggestions and demands for action to save Il-Bajja ta' San Tumas have fallen on deaf ears. Ms Zahra has every right to complain and to protest but I am afraid she is knocking on the wrong door. Il-Bajja is the sole responsibility of the central government and the local council can only advise and suggest... and put pressure on those in the driver's seat to act, and act in time. If it were not for the hard working president and committee members of the Għaqda tal-Bajja San Tumas, the state of the bay would be much worse than it is now.

These dedicated citizens in conjunction with the local council took a firm stand and have inundated the authorities with requests to wake up and do something. At long last, the office of the Prime Minister has sent photographers to review the present sorry state of this natural gem. Discussions are in progress so that this bay can be restored to its past splendour. I humbly suggest that before putting pen to paper lambasting the local council, Ms Zahra should have checked the facts. If she had done so, she would have known that il-Bajja is not the local council's turf but the government's.