I have recently returned from what is almost an annual holiday in Malta (I married a Maltese girl in 1966) and would like to make a comment or two. Over the past 43 years I have seen quite marked changes in Malta, many for the good, a few not so good, the loss of the Maltese character houses for blocks of flats especially in the Sliema area. The overall population increase is quite obvious and quite a burden on such a small island; some of the increase is transient, such as tourists, but much of it appears to be people from other EU countries seeking either employment or further education. I am surprised there has not been some government restrictions placed on the numbers of EU job seekers before they overwhelm the island. Another marked change is the number of vehicles on the roads making some parts of the island almost a giant car park.

On my last visit I was researching Malta's only Hollywood actor namely Joseph Calleia (full name Giuseppe Maria Spurrin-Calleja) and was very disappointed to find the bust that was erected in his name in Rabat in such a poor state. Before photographing the bust I had to remove some beer cans that had been perched on the head of the bust and chewing gum which had been stuck over various places on the face; it seems that Rabat residents have little respect for their island's only notable support actor who featured in many excellent Hollywood films. I feel rather sorry for the sculptor Anton Agius and Eman Bonnici to have their efforts treated in such a way.