On the Dot

An emergency department user, whose treatment was supposed to include a tetanus jab, was told he would not get the jab because they were out of stock! Very surprising considering it is a new and state-of-the-art hospital.

Poles Apart

A British Airways B777 crash landed at Heathrow early in the afternoon of January 17. By January 28 an "initial report" about the mishap was already available. A man died in a police shooting in Qormi on May 4, 2007 and an airliner almost collided with a light plane over Żebbuġ on April 21, 2007. No reports about any of the two incidents have been published yet.

Close Encounter

One would be forgiven for thinking that the term "wesgħa" no longer translates into "wide open space". Wesgħa Narċis, at Mellieħa Heights, has become the final resting place of a rusty container with Anġlu Xuereb Ltd emblazoned on its sides, as well as a decrypt caravan, where Triq is-Sagħtar meets Triq il-Miġbħa. The other end of this supposedly green area is being used as a parking lot for heavy plant such as enormous building tractors and the like.

Crash Barriers

A traffic accident in which schoolchildren were involved happened at about 7 a.m. last week. Again, the question begs itself: Why were children on the road at so early an hour if not for the fact that mini van drivers try to squeeze in as many school trips as possible in between ferrying workers and tourists as well?

Smoke Screens

A British landlord has landed a £10,000 fine for allowing patrons to smoke on his premises and flouting the ban. His denials that he had not broken the law, because he had "advised" his regulars about the ban and left them free to decide what to do, cut no ice with the district judge. One wonders what is stopping similar sting operations in Malta.

Right Notes

A very big note of thanks and an even bigger round of applause go to the guest singer at the Song for Europe Festival. Natalie Gauci thrilled us all with her scintillating personality and beautiful voice.

Car Parked

A vehicle - registration number available - has been abandoned for well over a year in Triq il-Qawsalla, Msida. The road licence on the windscreen expired ages ago; it is dated March 2006. The local council, although informed about this issue, has taken no action.

Visiting Ours

A stay in hospital is not a pleasant experience for most people. Therefore, finding dedicated people as was the case at the Blue Wing Day Surgery Unit, is a much welcome relief. The person in charge and her team ensure the patients are as comfortable as could be and ease their worries and fears as best they can.

Round Up

Soft drinks and beverage dispensing machines appear to have already begun ignoring the one and two euro cent coins. It seems these do not matter; not only are they not registered in the credit one slots into the machine - they are not even given out as change. So either placing the correct amount, or expecting change from a higher one, is useless.

Stop Watch

The Rabat bus terminus at St Rita Street is the quintessence of complete inefficiency and totally lacks coordination. The bus terminus clock is either not functioning or else indicating an incorrect time. On January 23, on the Saqqajja bus stop there was a queue of over 30 people because the 7.50 a.m. and 8.05 a.m. buses did not show up. Commuters were left stranded for more than half an hour. The ADT said the dispatcher was short of buses at peak times!

Black Boards

A spate of road surfacing seems to have taken the country by storm. In an effort to get the work done, possibly before the election, little heed is being paid to the road markings. Motorists are left wondering whether Belisha beacons are supposed to be respected since no zebra crossings accompany them and parking zones and yellow lines have become matters of opinion.

Valletta Calling

The Valletta local council's attention has already been drawn, several times in the past, to the disgraceful state of the public staircase in the government building at the side of the main entrance into Valletta. It is simply not acceptable that such a public and much used stairway is allowed to fall into such pitiful standards.

Majority Lures

The development zone in Attard was expanded in 2006 without Attard residents having been consulted, thus giving the green light to property speculation. Another case in point is restricted, 120-minute parking in zones where a minority of the residents would not have voted for it and it is therefore not unanimous. Both instances indicate a disregard to the "let the people speak" praxis.

onthedot@timesofmalta.com