Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1278887
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 AUGUST 2020 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Sliema cat village I understand the concerns of those who feel dismayed at the demolition or re- moval of the St Julian's cat village. This attractive little corner of Spinola Road has long been curated since the 1990s by neighbours, and indeed it formed part of the area's home-grown attractions. I do share in the disappoint- ment of those who feel this small patch of community life has been taken away by development. However, readers should not think that such ad hoc 'cat villages' are neces- sarily adaptable to every area of a town. I have in mind the deleterious state of Independence Gardens in Sliema, where an entire section of the gardens – that is, an area of benches under three sun- shades – has been taken over by one of these curated cat villages. Not only: but the area is now being tended to by a gentleman who also sleeps in the garden, spending his days there, cooking food on a BBQ, so as to justify his vagrancy by the affection that cats arouse in people. It truly is a case of community space going from bad to worse. Instead of being a public garden enjoyed by all, elderly and children, this cat village is now a maelstrom of odours, feral ani- mals, litter and refuse, with the equally opportunistic vagrant making it his own home! Does the Sliema local council think this is even acceptable for residents? Do the authorities who tend to these urban spaces – I have in mind both the tourism ministry and the environment ministry – agree that such public spaces that belong to the entire community, become organically absorbed by those who elect themselves as "guardians" of whichever feral species happens to be wandering by? Surely, this is not even an animal rights issue. This is a matter of public spaces which are allowed to be turned into rogue, private areas, on account of unimpeachable causes such as the care of cats. What if all the benches at Inde- pendence Gardens were to be colonised by equally concerned animal lovers, claimed by blankets and feeding pots left out at will to encourage these dens? Should we accept that any 'concerned' resident can claim an inch of public space without any formal consent, or vetting by the health authorities? Should we accept that equally concerned 'va- grants' are then allowed to turn make- shift animal shelters into their homes? Please: let us not mistake the gen- erosity and affection towards stray animals for some sort of carte blanche that allows public spaces to be turned into privatised spaces. If that logic had to be applied to any single corner of our towns, entire pavements and undevel- oped corner sites are liable to be turned into cat villages. I hope my letter can be seen as a di- rect appeal to the councils such as those in Sliema, whose mayor must show him- self to be more pro-active at ensuring a semblance of order and organisation in his town, rather than placate quaint elements who value stray cats over and above the benefits of free and unencum- bered public space. I do not advocate a wholesale removal of these animals, even though strays are better cared for in homes and shelters. But this is public, communal space, not some private club, and that means that residents should rightfully reclaim an orderly and clean space for their recre- ation. Mary Borg Sliema The Sliema 'cat village' has taken up benches under three sunshades