I write with reference to the letter by John Williams entitled Scrooge Has An Influence On Sannat (December 30).

The Sannat local council engaged a contractor to take care of the Christmas decorations in Sannat.

This contractor, Azzopardi Brothers, was however dissuaded from doing so by persons involved in church festa decorations. He was advised by them that due to bad weather, the decorations - which are the contractor's property - would be damaged. Moreover the festa committee refused to loan the feast masts used for the Christmas decorations by the council, so much so that now the council has been constrained to order feast masts of its own.

As regards the wooden crib by the side of the church, this was set up by the council. However, nobody offered to provide the necessary electricity. While it was not known by whom it was made, Mr Williams was happy with it. When it was known that it was the council, he criticised the same council that it was not lit up and this was after Christmas.

It appears that there is a covert, but concerted effort to put the Sannat council in a bad light, perhaps by those who have cast their avaricious eyes on the forthcoming council election posts as is manifest from the final sentence: "I honestly hope that the Sannatins will stop wearing blinkers and remember Christmas 2008 come the local election next June."

It also appears that Mr Williams has inside knowledge of council affairs, so much so that he knew that the crib was set up by the council.

Since Mr Williams has taken on the role of Jacob Marley, he should have manifested the ghosts of years past and mentioned in his letter other obstacles hurled into the Sannat council's path. For instance, it is granted €165,216 per annum, far less from the central government than other councils having the same or even fewer residents in Gozo, and has constantly been denied the full complement of three central government employees to carry out works in Sannat. Instead of three workers, Sannat has only been given one. The learned gentleman must also know of the promise made before the last general election by the Nationalist Party to help in the embellishment of 28th April 1688 Street. The Minister for Gozo has since then failed to provide workers to finish the job in spite of the council's continuous pleas. On the other hand, Mr Williams must also know that unlike other local councils in Gozo, the council, at its own expense gave a Christmas present to all the senior citizens of Sannat. The council also organised a Christmas party for the children and gave a present to each child without asking for a fee. For the senior citizens the council also organised an outing to see cribs in Gozo and a meal at a subsidised price.

Besides this, a lot of cultural, educational and sports activities are organised by the council throughout the year. The council even has its own sports leader to organise sports activities. The council even organised a young ladies football match.

Does Mr Williams not use Sannat Road which is in a disastrous state?

Does he not complain because it is the responsibility of the central government? Did he write a letter to this paper about the state of the road which was supposed to be resurfaced by the end of 2008 by the Ministry of Gozo?

It would have been much better had he written about the state of this arterial road with its potholes , which does not fall under the responsibility of the council, than about the street decorations in Triq Sannat and the crib.