Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1185664
19 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 NOVEMBER 2019 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Proposed waterpolo pitch in Marsaskala In the report on the Marsaskala waterpolo pitch penned by James Debono (24 October, 2019), it was stated that: "on the area at sea cur- rently used for the mooring of pleas- ure craft during the summer months, Transport Malta has been consulted about the impact of the moorings. It transpires that none of these moor- ings are regularised". Our association takes exception at this statement, and the above is incorrect. 1. Contrary to the impression giv- en in your article, most of the moor- ings in Marsaskala are registered with Transport Malta and owners are paying an annual permit fee ranging from €41.93 to €111.80 for each mooring depending on the size of boat. The majority of the moor- ings within the proposed waterpolo pitch area are registered with TM. 2. TM has issued over 600 moor- ing permits. Furthermore TM has a waiting list of applicants for more mooring permits. There is no doubt TM has been and is currently di- rectly involved in the registration of moorings in the bay. 3. Not only is the greater majority of boats secured to registered TM mooring permits, but the boats are now actually tied according to con- ditions that come with the permit, that is, boats have to be tied fore and aft to reduce space between moor- ings. This means TM's involvement in the mooring of boats in Marsaskala has not only seen that the majority of moorings are now registered but that the boats are also temporarily organised as per new mooring ex- pectations set by TM. Boat owners have complied, which meant an extra expense for higher mooring fees as well as for the addi- tion of an extra aft sinker and rigging as per new regulations. 4. More specifically, not only are the 40 plus boats currently moored in the area designated for the new waterpolo pitch registered, but Għaqda Baħħara Sajjieda u Dilettanti Wied il-Għajn has the assurance from TM that these will be taken into consideration and relocated in the process. Għaqda Baħħara Sajjieda u Dilet- tanti Wied il-Għajn therefore finds it very hard to beleive that any reli- able source from the Mooring Sec- tion of TM could possibly have said something so diametrically opposite to the truth. Mr Debono seems to be unconscious of or indifferent to the implications of his unfounded state- ment. Paul Brincat, GhBSMK, Marsaskala Errate Corrige On Sunday 10 November, MaltaToday incorrectly pointed out that the Malta Union of Teachers' membership had de- creased in 2016/2017. It did not: the official numbers from the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations indeed state that the number increased from 9,288 the year before, to 9,509 – and not 9,059 as incor- rectly reported. The error is regretted.