Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1473504
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 JULY 2022 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Commercialising Valletta I feel that I must declare my own disa- greement with the entire way in which this obscene policy to turn our baroque city into a cheap and nasty nightclub, is one that will turn away any potential quality visitors from the islands. This is only a small part of the entire devious plan to commercialize Valletta – first with the increase and erratic per- mits for outside seating and platforms down the main streets of this wonderful city (endangering lives, no doubt, if emergency services such as fire engines, ambulances and police cannot access crime sites, accidents or even persons who fall ill). Perhaps we need to ask serious ques- tions here: if there is an accident, crime or someone falls ill and there are deaths, who will take political and criminal responsibility for this mismanagement? The local council? The government? The businesses or the Planning Author- ity? Now we also have a plan to turn the city into an open air disco and possibly a drunkard's paradise or drug mer- chant's meeting place – another way we will bring down standards and go from quantity to more quantity and total cha- os, criminality and intrigue. Another reason to forget quality tour- ism for the time being with this regime. Dr Julian Zarb Tourism Planning Consultant E-nuisance SOMETHING has to be done about these damn scooters. It's about time to take action! Who will end up with a court case if grievous injuries were caused to such reckless scooter drivers? Mind you: grievous injuries might also mean when one causes a facture to another one's tiny finger. Yes, that will end up in court and get you fined and also have your licence suspended! I'd like to know how many fines have been issued for such reckless and illegal scooter driving, in comparison with how many car drivers were taken to court for causing grievous injuries or even death to scooter drivers. I've seen scooters whizzing by traffic wardens on main roads like Sliema and they are never stopped! There is no adequate infrastructure to accommodate these scooters and they cause more traffic mayhem than reducing it, all apart from the damage they cause to cars when tipping over parked cars or when they try to squeeze through parked cars and moving traffic. Gordon Calleja Via email Disability: more needs to be done PERSONS with disability should be included in everyday activities and encouraged to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disabil- ity. This involves more than simply encouraging people; it requires making sure that adequate policies and practic- es are in effect in the community; that everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires. Recently we heard persons with dis- ability and conditions indirectly stating that they are not happy with their lives and they do not wish for any other to be in their same position. It is the physical, social and attitudi- nal barriers, together with the lack of professional services, which make these persons unhappy with their lives to this extent. This ought to be an eye-opener for the government and policy-makers that much more needs to be done in this sector. All the services subsidised and or fully paid by the State should be brought known to all persons with disabilities and eventually, also reminded about. Such services ought to be made avail- able to all and this without any excuse as state funds are public funds. It is of utmost importance to be ensured we are getting value for the money spent for the disability sector. Marthese Mugliette President, MFOPD