After decades of neglect and unheeded pleas, Floriana’s St Anne Street arcades and the subways finally got their muchneeded facelift... or did they?

The project took off some weeks before the Pope’s visit last April. In a fashion typical of “old time government” practices, workers started slapping on a couple of coats of paint onto the dirty flaky walls. Work stopped for “the visit” and, though resumed later in a hiccup manner, it was practically never finished. One can clearly see where one or two coats were given and where none at all.

The same happened with the infamous subways. One was started and, barely completed, was opened to the public. The standard of finish is absolute rubbish. Dubious choice of tiles, very dim lighting… the list is too long but what strikes one most is the very poor workmanship. The roof problem wasn’t tackled at all and it still leaks when it rains, which adds to the overall mess.

Work on the second subway started months ago but, for some reason, it was halted. It has been closed now for at least nine weeks, with rubbish accumulating outside the rusty gates.

I cringe in shame when I see tourists making their way down the steps only to climb back up, disgusted.

Valletta is, at last, getting a proper and much-needed mega-million-euro facelift, so it is very unfair that Floriana should be debased in this way.

The Floriana local council offered several times to take “ownership” and maintenance of the arcades and subways but, apparently, the central government puts some mysterious strategic importance on them and won’t budge.

I want to believe that the minister responsible doesn’t know what’s going on and suggest that he regale us a few minutes of his precious time to personally verify the veracity of my observations. I guarantee he’ll be appalled at the sight.