Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513668
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 MARCH 2022 OPINION 3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 DECEMBER 2023 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications A Christmas present WHAT can we give as a Christmas present? Traditional presents? Their pleasure passes rapidly. While it is important to give presents, it is not enough. There are other valuable presents to give and when we give them, we feel more at peace and in the grace of God. The presents we should give this year and the years to come are: Money for the poor – we should see what they need and help them out; visit the sick and prisoners; visit the lonely; organise parties for poor people and the lonely; fight against everything which is evil – do not bother to go against the grain; but the most important thing is to give love. We need to take care of each other and ourselves, both physically and spiritually to please God. Humans, irrespective if they are pagan or athe- ist, know deep down in their con- science whether they are doing right or wrong. The Holy Virgin Mary said we are at the edge of the cliffs and can easily fall. Satan is doing the best he can to win plenty of souls. Life is short. So, let us please God, our creator, the giver of life and strength, so that in the afterlife we can enjoy the light of his face forever. Happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. Mario Micallef Mosta A network of ferry stops I watched with interest the interview Malt- aToday had with Transport Minister Aar- on Farrugia and welcome the announce- ment that the harbour ferry services will start being offered free for Tal-Linja card users. I believe that sea transport is still underutilised in this country as an alterna- tive means of travel. Within the two ports flanking the Valletta peninsula two more landings can be created – one at Ta' Xbiex and one at Kalkara – to provide a wider network connecting the harbour towns with the capital. But I am also curious about the fate of the project that had to connect the ports at Marsamxett and Grand Harbour by a tunnel passing beneath Valletta. This pro- ject would have seen boats ferrying passen- gers across both harbours thus providing a direct link between Sliema and Bormla. A network of ferry stops along the east- ern coastline of Malta, including St Paul's Bay, St Julian's and Marsaskala could provide important connections that ease traffic congestion. Sea connections may not solve all the problems but they could provide an al- ternative to the private car, at least for part of the journey. The bigger question is whether an extensive ferry service can be financially viable and if not, what level of public subsidy would be needed to make it function. I believe the Transport Ministry should study this aspect and determine whether it is feasible to have an extensive ferry network, especially in light of the decision that has been taken to abandon the idea of a metro system. Tony Sammut St Julian's