Wrong priorities - September 25, 2004

I refer to the news bulletin of September 14 on Net TV at 7.45 p.m. which at one point referred to the disastrous streets which need to be done up and commented that high prices were being requested by the contractors.

Let me make myself clear: The correct price should be paid for the correct job and I do not expect the government to pay excessive prices for any job. After all, the money comes from our own pockets.

But, on the other hand, these jobs have to be done. The government always boasts that it employs "experts" to give their input. Maybe it will be cheaper to have them done today rather than in the future. Towards the end of the news, the station reported that "the government is budgeting the funds for the project but they are being used elsewhere".

What cheek! Did the government deem Lm10 million not expensive for Malta House in Brussels? Did the government deem Lm146 million not expensive for the new hospital?

I live in Sir Hannibal P. Scicluna Street, in Naxxar. This area is not even serviced with drainage, let alone the actual road! In other words our drainage flows into cesspits - which do overflow, causing a disgusting smell every morning. We do get bitten by mosquitoes which rest on the drainage and the bites themselves are not nice, to say the least.

However, our health is not important. The ministers live in properly serviced roads.

During the same news bulletin, the need was also mentioned for the installation of a lift from the sea passenger terminal to Valletta, emphasising that the government has deemed this to be an important and urgent project and, notwithstanding that no offers have been made for the project, the government has declared that it is a priority that the lift be installed.

Get your priorities right! The government sympathises with the residents but - tough luck - we have to keep on living in dung!

Pity. When I voted to be truly European, I expected to have gains as well as eco taxes, etc.