MHRA condemns spate of dumping

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) has strongly condemned as irresponsible the recent spate of illegal dumping along arterial roads and other sites.

Tonnes of waste was dumped at different spots on arterial roads across the island in just a few hours last Thursday. The previous day, 200 refrigerators, plastic containers and car spares were dumped illegally along Notabile Road in Attard.

MHRA president Justin Zammit Tabona said it was a real shame that at a time when a number of road works were being concluded, giving better access and smoother rides to drivers, such irrational acts should be committed.

The authorities, he said, should investigate these cases with a view to bringing the "dumping devils" to book and taking the harshest steps against them.

Mr Zammit Tabona said that the MHRA was happy with the adverts being shown on television which related to the dumping situation. Anyone in their right senses and their heart in the right place would prefer to have embellishment projects being carried out as opposed to spending hundreds of thousands of liri "on cleaning up our own mess".

"People have to realise that this is being done from the taxpayer's pocket which at the end of the day means ours."

One of the holiday maker's main needs was for a clean environment, he said. Malta, with its unique beauty and cultural heritage, had the potential of being a dream destination.

He said the MHRA supports all the initiatives being taken by the government to embellish tourist zones and to conduct campaigns to keep the country clean.

The country could not allow the irresponsible few to undermine the will and efforts of the many. The MHRA looked forward to when the new legislation on littering would come into force next January for "punitive action to do the work where reasoning and persuasion don't seem to penetrate".