Eight weeks ago, I broke my left arm in five places along the humerus bone. It was a very bad break and after a three-hour operation I was left with a metal plate and 21 screws holding my bone together.

I suffered the break not while racing down the slopes of some romantic skiing resort, but I actually tripped on a pavement in Paceville.

It happened in a second, and at first, I thought I had just bruised my knees. As I tried to stand, I noticed my left arm dangling and moving like an unfeeling pendulum.  At that point I realised that all was not well.

A very friendly group of people offered to help and one called for an ambulance to take me to Mater Dei Hospital. That was not a good idea but as I was a little confused, to say the least, I sat and waited for the ambulance to come. I was taken to the emergency outpatients, where the reception was full with hundreds of people waiting for something. I, with my broken arm dangling and in great pain was asked to follow the red line, which eventually led me to a reception window.

The receptionist told me that I had at least an hour-and-a-half wait. I told him that I was in agony and he asked me to find a chair.

As I was thinking more clearly now, and as I was insured, I contacted Capua Hospital and asked them to come and collect me. They came and within a few minutes I was physically checked and put into a ward.  The operation took place the following morning.

The receptionist told me that I had at least an hour-and-a-half wait. I told him that I was in agony and he asked me to find a chair

Now why am I telling you all this.

Two reasons.

One. Be very careful when you are walking along pavements and roads. An accident can happen in a split second, and the result can inconvenience you for weeks and months.

Two.  Our pavements are in a terrible condition in most places in Malta and Gozo.

Why is this? It is simply, because they are not made well in the first place and they are made and finished differently all over the island making it either difficult or impossible to find materials to fix any problems neatly and properly.

Pavements are destroyed or damaged by big trucks stopping to deliver goods or materials. Destroyed by drain covers being opened when drains need cleaning and then either replaced badly, or just by placing a thin layer of cement, which vanishes almost immediately.

Damaged by new buildings being built, and all services needing access to the site. Damaged by people putting ramps for their cars leading to garages. These are just a few examples.

There must be stricter rules, regulations and standards about this very important means of presumably safer access when walking from one place to another. Especially when used by older people.

You make a pavement, then make them all the same and simple so that they can all be easily and neatly repaired. You make a pavement, then make them strong and robust so that they can stand wear and tear. You want repairs to your services, then fix the pavement properly and exactly as it was before.

You want to deliver with a big truck then make sure you stay on the road and stop destroying pavements. If you do damage a pavement, then have the decency to take responsibility and fix it properly.

Let us ask a few questions.

Who is responsible for pavements? The government or the councils? Are there any rules, regulations with regard to standard finishes? Should all pavements be finished to the same standard, or is it left to developers and other people to put whatever they like in front of their property?

Pavements are as important as roads, and people who live in Malta, and pay taxes, or visitors to our islands deserve and expect to be able to walk safely on pavements, that are placed there with a specific purpose and that is in order to keep them safe.

The organisation and standardisation of pavements should be done, and they are all things, that can be done. But will they be done?

I think that there will be a lot more people like me with broken body parts, before what I suggest is ever likely to happen. But things can be done to improve the situation, if the will is there. Is it?