On the Dot...

On their way to the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Commonwealth heads of state will be surely struck by the poor state of the façade of St Elmo Primary School, the only state school in Valletta at the bottom of Merchants Street. Since a lot of work is being done to upgrade the area, it won't be a bad idea if the façade is given a well needed facelift.

Who Cares

The inconvenience caused to pedestrians and motorists alike by the pavement works in Glormu Cassar Avenue, Valletta was raised on more than one occasion in this newspaper over the past days but to no avail. Evidently, pleasing the Commonwealth leaders is more important to the government than the safety and comfort of Maltese citizens.

Keep on Trucking

Whatever happened to the regulations about the removal of garbage from hotels, restaurants and other places of entertainment? The praxis obtaining is to make as much noise as possible during the exercise, when the establishment in question closes, not to mention the stench from decomposing vegetable and food.

School's Out

The setting up of the Lifelong Learning Centre is being given a lot of publicity in the press and in certain schools. However, some quarters high-handedly think the venture is not worthy of their attention, or of the parents of the children entrusted to their care. Incidentally, why are lectures not being held in Gozo too? Is it not possible for video-conferencing facilities to be introduced to make these course available to all those who find it difficult to cross over every day?

Stone Walled

It has been quite a long time now since we were regaled with the sight of an illegal building being razed to the ground. No doubt, there are still many that have been left standing, the owners of which are perhaps waiting for the prescription period to pass so that they can pay their fines, however hefty, and be allowed to get on with their lives.

Re-Routed

The rise in bus fares still has not achieved several of the results desired by the public. Buses still stick to their age-old routes without any having been introduced to pass through peripheral areas and housing estates in several locations. The service still stops abruptly in the evening, such that people either have to return home on the last bus, walk home, use their own transport - or pay for an expensive taxi.

Money Talks

First year university students in IHC have a stipend of under Lm40 a month. They have to commit themselves to several hours of service a week, failing which they will not be allowed to proceed with the course. Other students, on the other hand, have to purchase expensive books, stationery and other teaching aids. Such instances and others must be taken into account when considering the stipends of individuals who genuinely need assistance.

Bronco Lanes

The re-introduction of the bus lane system in Aldo Moro Street, Marsa may be justified during certain hours on the grounds that the area is a major traffic artery. However, the one in Mriehel, used sporadically by buses and school transport, is another matter. It sometimes takes drivers over half-an-hour to get from Hamrun to Mriehel, a journey that, although uphill, would have been done faster on foot.

Crabby Apples

The (un)friendly neighbourhood tree pruners have been at it again, definitely divesting trees of more greenery than was absolutely necessary. One gets the feeling that branches were razed for the simple reason that, in this way, the job would not have to be done again within a short while. One was under the impression that it is during wintertime that trees are relatively dormant and that is when they ought to be pruned.

Streets Ahead?

The Park and Ride roadworks project is way ahead of its paperwork for nobody knows exactly how the scheme will be run. What is sure is that the unusually very busy junction at Blata l-Bajda, near the Museum headquarters has been narrowed down to bottleneck proportions, literally and figuratively. If an accident had to happen, requiring the assistance of ambulance and fire engine personnel, one wonders how traffic would be re-routed, let alone how the emergency services would cope.

Bags of Study

The scholastic year has started again and some students have been given keys to lockers, which are relatively tiny when one considers the size of books that have to fit inside them. Meanwhile, one notes several secondary school students, not all of whom have the luxury of riding minivans to and from home to the school doorstep, nearly bent double under the weight of satchels. How many on-the-spot tests are made in classes to see whether extra stuff is being carried?