Just over two months ago I wrote a letter regarding a dead palm tree in Notabile Road, Fleur-de-Lys, and asked whether the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs could do something urgently about it in order to prevent further spread of the red palm weevil. Ray Bezzina, from the same ministry, replied that since the tree is in private property the department could not do anything about it. However, he said that "research is being carried out by the ministry's legal office to trace the owner" and that "in the meantime, the department is waiting for a permit to be issued in order for our people to enter the premises and remove the tree".

Two months have gone by and nothing has been done about this blessed tree. The photo, a few days ago, proves this fact. One can only reach one conclusion, namely that both the legal office and/or "our people" at the Rural Ministry are too busy to deal with this problem. Meantime, and unfortunately, the rot by the red weevil continues with more and more palm trees getting infected.

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