Evaluation needed

I read with dismay the Talking Point by Frank Salt (August 5). It is an example of knowing little but writing big, while the use of the words carelessness, inefficiency, laziness, indiscipline are, to say the least, dangerous to use. Those who live in and around Paceville know too well that the problem lies in the way the place has been turned and advertised, i.e. as the hive of entertainment and because of this it is frequented by all - local and foreign alike.

We who live in the area are experiencing the effects of this condition. It is easy to write on a few negative points but it is enough to know the high rate of vandalism, which is present in the locality, to start to understand the complex situation. I more than admire the local and central governments in their continuous efforts to freshen the place up when their work is often undone so quickly.

These past years we have witnessed waste bins thrown in the sea, one put on fire, glass windows of the telephone kiosks smashed over and over again, parts of the wall of the St George Street playground pulled down, road signs damaged - the list is endless. It is enough to know that the fountain monument inaugurated a few weeks ago is already damaged and let us hope that the newly erected bus shelter in St George's Road will survive!

At this time of the year the influx of people in St Julians is much greater than the local community, with a high percentage of foreigners. The majority of waste material left in the area is fast food wrappings, bottles (a good number broken) and cans - and who usually makes use of such commodities? One must also accept that not all foreign visitors are that welcome because of their behaviour. A few think they own the place while there are those who do not make a difference between the beach and the street and go around in their beachwear.

We often suffer from the large number of foreign students and some can be indisciplined and noisy; we have also on occasion to suffer their sing-song in the evening while they rumble along our streets. The main streets and public areas, such as the playground in St George's Road, are daily cleaned and sometimes washed but by the end of each day (especially at the weekend) they are again in a mess. This does not reflect carelessness on the part of the cleaners but the difficult situation we live in. So instead of pointing fingers at one or the other it is wiser if an evaluation of the situation is made and all parties concerned really make an effort to improve the present situation for the good of all.