For the last three years people have been writing in the papers on the dangerous and disgraceful situation we are enduring, caused by unbearably loud disco sounds till 4 a.m., sometimes even later in the morning; Saturday and Sunday morning seem to be the loudest.

Every summer we experience this madness. I am convinced that the licence was not given to these establishments for this terrible all-night beat of drums; the disco owners must have added more power to the sound once the licence was approved.

I live more than a kilometre away, and the noise is so loud that it just will not let you sleep all night. I cannot imagine what health hazard patrons of these discos are unknowingly exposing themselves to.

We are advised that cigarettes kill, too much alcohol kills; strong sound vibrations cause damage too. Why cannot surprise visits be made by the police or the health authorities to check the level of sound people are being exposed to?

Last Sunday at 3.30 a.m., after being awake all night, I felt so bad that I called the Rabat police station. There was no reply, and on calling 191, I was told by a policewoman she would see what she can do.

At 4.10 a.m. I called again and a policeman said: “Are they still playing music?” To this I said: “You should not be questioning me. I would rather expect to be told what action has been taken”.

I expect police to take immediate action, considering that police reinforcements were promptly sent to clear a handful of protesters when the Israeli Foreign Minister was in Malta and during the Sette Giugno commemoration in the name of peace and order.

Surely these outlets are disturbing the peace to the great inconvenience of all those living in old people’s homes in Rabat, in Mount Carmel Hospital, and residents of Dingli, Rabat, Żebbuġ, Attard, Siġġiewi, who have to put up with the relentless, ear-splitting, all-night beat?

I wonder how many similar complaints the police have received and what action was taken?

Last year I and a few others delivered a personal petition to the President, Prime Minister, Police Commissioner and other authorities, asking that these outlets reduce the noise because people living in a wide radius around these entertainment outlets, cannot sleep. But all our efforts have been in vain.

We expect our politicians to take action about their constituents’ justified complaints. Surely this is one of them.