Letters to the editor – June 15, 2026

Outstanding milestone

Ray Bondin of Għajnsielem writes:

The arrival of the first direct flight from New York to Malta is an outstanding and important milestone for our tourism sector.

This is opening an enormous opportunity for us and it is hoped that we are capable to adjust to the needs of a different sector of tourism. They have their own particular way of looking at tourism and we must adapt to them.

Delta Air Lines’ first direct flight from New York arrived on June 8. Photo: Chris Sant Fourier

The comments some gave on arrival are very encouraging. They spoke of our history and heritage, meaning they know what Malta has to offer. Unlike cruise tourists that come here because 

Valletta is part of a Mediterranean tour these have specifically chosen to come here. Congratulations to everyone involved in this achievement. Let us all make sure they keep coming.

Tired of Gozo’s cruel hunting 

Johanna Nel of Sannat writes:

I really tried the past few months to hear and see and speak no evil. I even bought very expensive headphones to use while walking to hopefully cancel out the bird recorders being active all over Gozo. The very expensive headphones don’t work, by the way...

For months now, we don’t walk a certain Saguna Cliffs route even though it is a tourist red dot route and extremely pretty. For everyone to enjoy, one would hope. 

There is a section cleared out by burning the natural flora and definitely trapping preparations. The amount of hunting huts increased since the last time I tried to walk there. It’s not a peaceful walk at all. One of the structures is right on the edge of the cliffs. It’s a public space. May I put a tent there?

It’s very disturbing and emotionally devastating. For weeks, birds raised their fledglings only to be viciously and barbarically shot by big grown-up men. These are not hungry men. Shelves are bulging with an abundance of food. It is not right to be this selfish. If we have a right to live so do the birds, quails, rabbits etc. and we have a right to enjoy them, not be stolen by selfish people.

What is really sad is the excuse of culture, family members too scared to speak up and, worst, manipulation.

Why can people not opt for a peaceful, safe and clean environment for everyone and set an example for the rest of the world? 

Did you know hunting seasons are extended? Shouldn’t the opposite happen?

I am so so tired.

Prisoner assessment

Tom Farrow, of Żurrieq, writes:

I agree with much of what Andrew Azzopardi says in his article (‘Prisons should not create conditions for re-offending’, June 6) but would go further.

The raison d’être of a prison system in a modern democracy is education and preparation for release and a future life outside the institution. In my view, you have to start with the original conviction and understand why that crime took place; the reasons are likely to be complex and may include poor education, family breakdown and peer pressure to commit crime. Right at the beginning of the sentence, the prisoner should be assessed and a clear plan for rehabilitation established; this invariably involves retraining.

Azzopardi concentrates on the point of release and beyond. Whilst important, I would argue that the effort and expense should be put in throughout the sentence.

(The author is a retired consultant to HM Prison Service and the National Audit Office.)