On the Dot...

The largest roundabout in Birkirkara in Misrah San Alwigi needs urgent attention. It is overgrown with weeds, is full of litter and the lower end has become an illegal dumping site. Maybe flowers planted there will discourage dumping!

Break Dancing

An alternative use appears to have been found for the Mosta Rotunda church parvis, since it is a relatively large, level, well-lit space. Several young cyclists have lately been congregating there and using the place as a training ground for stunt-riding. One wonders whether the Church authorities, the police and the local council have all given their blessing for this to go on.

Horse Sense

It is no longer unusual to see karozzini cabs in areas that were usually immune to the blight of horse manure strewn along the roads. Despite all the talk about concocting a solution to this problem, nothing has so far been done and, rather than decreasing, the problem is spreading further and wider.

Give Away

Some establishments jealously guard the parking space in front of their main doorway, lest a parked car be the cause of decreased business. Yet, the youth at Guillaumier Works in Canon Road, Hamrun, with a warm smile, actually waved a woman with a baby in the vehicle into the designated space, last Tuesday at about 8.45 a.m.

Time Out

How often is it that a student, or a member of the staff of a school, dies during the scholastic year? The praxis about attending morning or early afternoon funerals appears to vary from school to school and, again, to the rank of the person wishing to attend the funeral because of personal reasons. Are there any official guidelines about this?

Work to Lure

The statistics for accidents taking place on the workplace leave much to be desired; one statistic has an overall 10 occurring each working day, given that 915 accidents have already happened this year. This is, no doubt, 10 accidents too many. The ultimate responsibility for safety, inclusive of the wearing of health and safety gear where necessary lies with the employer. But how many times has this law been enforced?

Cold Relief

Many people do not wait for the appropriately named cold season to snuffle and sneeze. This is also the reason why the price of some medications tends to rise whenever a new stock is imported, rather than when there is the most need for it nationally.

Cutting Corners

It is high time that buses were fitted with a tracking system. That way, it would be immediately obvious at the dispatch area whether a bus has, in fact, turned up on time to make the trip or whether a driver has seen it fit to take a shortcut on the route, leaving some people stranded.

Happy Days

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority had, a couple of years ago, prepared an interactive advent calendar for use at primary school level, Years 1-6. It is indeed a pity that nothing similar was then done for the subsequent Christmas season. One hopes that, in time for the summer holidays, a new fun project will be taken in hand.

Hand Stamped

Some news reports include information about how samples of substances taken from the scene of crimes were sent abroad for testing. There certainly are forensic scientists in Malta and a forensic laboratory is known to exist. The public deserves an explanation and, while at it, why not explain also why the conclusions of magisterial inquiries into certain high profile cases never see the light of day?

Dance Routine

Some years ago, much ado was made in the education sector about how the importance of subjects such as physical education and home economics was going to be highlighted, such that students who do well will thus acquire a sense of achievement they would, perhaps, be unable to obtain through academic topics. Ironically, however, it is rare to find teachers for these two subjects available during parents' days, in several schools.

Social Disservice

Nothing has as yet been done about the perilous state of the walls bordering the Centru Hidma Socjali and the Vincenzo Bugeja Institute in Santa Venera. Ironically, work has been carried out on the Wignacourt aqueduct just across the road, making the walls appear even shabbier. How long will it be before whole sections collapse, necessitating definitely more expensive repairs?

Due Credit

The Customs Department has been making this country proud. Over the past weeks and months it has scored a number of successes that transmit serious warnings to unsavoury characters. Keep it up. You have the full support of all law-abiding taxpayers.