Mellieħa was recently full of people delivering new street numbers to a number of households, and residents were told they would have to get a new ID card and had only 10 days to do so. One can just imagine how the ID card office is going to be invaded in the coming days.

What is this nonsense? Are we from a backward country or a member of European Union? The change of the street number will mean informing so many people, as well as agencies, banks, the passport office, place of work, doctors, the hospital and schools, to name a few.

A friend of mine is very concerned as he is about to leave the country to work overseas for a few months and it is impossible to get a new ID card before he departs. When he contacted the Electoral Office he was told that the information was published in the Government Gazette. However, how many people even know of the existence of this publication, let alone read it? 

Surely it is just a matter of common sense to have the 10-day period lenghthened? What is the hurry? Residents should have been informed about these changes well in advance, ideally about six months ago, and not at such short notice.

Somebody has made a big mistake which is causing a lot of problems for people.