I refer to the letter by Kevin J. Drake, director, communications and PR, Malta Tourism Authority (October 23).

The residents of St Paul’s Bay and district as well as the business community in the area, including hotel owners/operators, would welcome a list of proposed upgrades and urgent repairs that are necessitated by the many years of total neglect in the area. These works are required in order to make our roads, pavements and parts of the promenade “safe” for the public, the old and infirm to use. What are also badly needed are tourist information booths (perhaps peak season only) as well as some public toilets in the vicinity of the Qawra bus station.

With all due respect, Mr Drake’s reply to Oliver Mallia and Reuben Chircop sounds more like a belated joint publicity campaign on behalf of MTA, Transport Malta, the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs and the local council in this “model village” of ours where some cosmetic works were completed last June in a matter of a few days and which were followed up by the usual political publicity stunt which was meant to make things right overnight.

This would have had the desired effect some 30 years ago but we have all grown up since! I also refer to the couple of roads which were left for many years reminiscent of “walking on the moon” and were resurfaced last June. Again with all due respect, the pavements for these same roads have been left in as a dangerous state as they were before the resurfacing.

What is so badly needed in this area is that the Blue Flag status is awarded to the resort as a whole and is managed to the same standards as the few square metrrs of the perched beach! It happens in similar resorts abroad, why not in Malta?