Recently I needed to use the ladies' public convenience near the zebra crossing on the main road in St Julian's. I was simply appalled at the state of the toilets. I noticed a service provider board on one of the toilet walls on the left an decided to call and report this matter.

The first man who answered the call understood perfectly well where I was calling from, and as soon as he heard my complaint about the disgusting state of the toilet floor, he passed the phone to another man, saying he was passing me on to the right person.

The right person asked politely what the matter was. As soon as I mentioned the state of the toilets again, he pretended that he could not hear me. I was quite surprised, as the line was clear. Maybe he didn't want to face up to the fact that someone over whom he has charge has not been providing the cleaning service; or was it the fact that he has given up, as these toilets are so badly in need of refurbishing?

If the toilets are very old and the cleaning staff are unable to clean grime that has accumulated over the years, then this is a public health issue. It ought to be a priority matter. I hope that an inspector is sent to these toilets as soon as possible. The place needs refurbishing altogether. Whose responsibility is it to inspect the public toilets? Are the inspectors not doing their jobs?

What impression are tourists - St Julian's is a prime tourist area, after all - going to take away with them? Will they tell their friends to avoid coming to Malta, especially St Julian's? What a shame!