Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1506906
12 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 SEPTEMBER 2023 St Paul's Bay: From tranquility ST Paul's Bay was once a pictur- esque seaside village widely re- nowned for being a summertime destination for many Maltese. However, the locality has seen drastic change over the past three decades, resulting in hundreds of commercial outlets, thousands of hotel rooms, and apartments that are rented all year round. Indeed, the locality is often in the news because of the problems caused by its rapid and at times haphazard expansion. From vio- lent arguments to garbage piling on street corners, constant con- struction and a lack of enforce- ment, St Paul's Bay is experienc- ing problems that are common to other localities. But with a popu- lation of 32,000 and a large land area, these problems are more magnified. Former St Paul's Bay mayor and current Nationalist MP Graziella Galea and ADPD Chairperson Sandra Gauci, a resident, high- lighted a wide array of problems that are chipping away at the quality of life of the locality's res- idents. 'Rats are our pets' Graziella Galea believes that lack of proper waste manage- ment is to blame for the endless presence of garbage bag heaps on street corners. "The new rubbish collection schedule is not adequate for this locality," Galea said, adding that collection does not take place in a timely manner. Waste collection takes place in the afternoon, she said, noting that the situation is not helped by lax enforcement. "Rats have become our pets," ADPD's Sandra Gauci said. "One cannot increase the population of a locality and reduce the number of garbage collection days." Gauci referred to her party's protest in the locality in July, where she had emphasised the filthy condition of pavements and public spaces, the noise from bars that residents have to put up with, and how economic interests had made citizens the victims of overdevelopment. A lawless place But another problem in Malta's largest locality seems to be the frequent violent episodes hap- pening on the streets. In August, pictures of a bloody man lying on the street unconscious following the latest fight quickly spread through social media. "Unfortunately it is a common feeling amongst the majority of the residents that it is not safe any more to live in this locality," explained Graziella Galea point- ing to the number of thefts, fights and frequent vandalism in the area. A few years ago, she said, the St Paul's Bay police station was shut down and the number of police officers at the Qawra police sta- tion is insufficient to meet all of the community's needs. "The presence of the community po- lice has helped in this regard, but more presence on the street is re- quired," Galea said. According to the MP street fights have become "the order of the day", and very often they in- volve foreigners coming from the same country or from "the same regions of the world". This, she believes, is causing disquiet among law-abiding Mal- tese and non-Maltese residents. "There is a sense of helplessness brought on by the fact that there is turmoil in various parts of the community, especially given the St Paul's Bay has evolved from a small fishing village to a sprawling cosmopolitan town, making it Malta's largest. Two notable residents tell MATTHEW FARRUGIA about the challenges the locality faces as it grapples with trash, rats and crime