Would it be too much for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to have a small office employing two, maybe three, wheelchair-bound people, supervised by an architect, to go over plans submitted for commercial premises to ensure they provide easy access for wheelchair-bound individuals, so as to give them freedom and independence?

Surely ease of accessibility is a human right and everything must be done to allow these people independence. It is shameful that for the lack of a small ramp or a few centimetres on the width of a lift this impedes these people's freedom of movement. Incidentally, having such amenities available would also enhance the tourism industry by making Malta more attractive to these people. I have had a wheelchair-bound friend of mine asking what Malta is like as far as accessibility is concerned.

I reluctantly had to advise him not to holiday here as what he was asking for was not at all possible on our island.

I am sure with a little thought and expense Malta could become an example of what a truly caring nation it is.