Looking at the giant billboards advertising the developments along the waterfront between Cospicua and Vittoriosa, one cannot help but be impressed with a project of this magnitude that is certainly going a very long way in helping the regeneration of at least two of the Three Cities.

Senglea once again has drawn the short straw and just like poor Cinderella cannot go to the ball; it is heartbreaking to see the plans just stopping short of our proud historical maritime city.

What must us residents of Senglea do to be included? It is obvious that the government, in its infinite wisdom, does not feel that our beloved city deserves any consideration. The seafront road with its deep craters resembles the surface of the moon and the promenade wall along the sea has been patched up and painted so many times that it is just about being held together. The biggest shame of all, however, is the vedette (gardjola) situated at the end of Safe Heaven Gardens guarding the Grand Harbour. This landmark can be considered the trademark of the Maltese islands as it features in every tourist information literature and is in a very poor state, crumbling away.

Every day coaches and minibuses slowly manoeuvre the potholes along the front, taking tourists to the Ponta which is just below the vedette. Unfortunately, they do not alight without a word of warning from their drivers “mind for falling masonry”.

I do not know whether the local council can do more but surely the onus is on the government, especially when a national gem like the vedette is concerned.

We did have a glimpse of regeneration last year when the new overflow cruise liner terminal was inaugurated. Sadly this was only used a couple of times and since then it has had all sorts of vessels mooring there, at times causing a nuisance to the residents.

Just recently we commemorated 70 years from when Senglea suffered horrendous bombing raids due to the aircraft carrier Illustrious being moored in the close vicinity of the then Naval Dockyard. Numerous well-to-do families had to flee to other areas of Malta, unfortunately never to return.

I implore those who have roots in Senglea to help in lobbying the government to shake off any phobias about Senglea. My dream is that one day I would be able to write a letter commending the inclusion of Senglea in a project similar to the one centred around Dock No. 1.

Senglea has a large community of foreign residents from the four corners of the earth who have certainly identified the potential of this beautiful city that is in need of some tender loving care.