From Mr D. Borda

I would like to comment on the report entitled “Fed up Swieqi residents threaten to take complaint to EU” (TMIS, 5June).

What do the Swieqi residents, and the Qui-si-Sana residents for that matter, expect? That there is no development in their environs and that no language schools are opened? This is because

they live in a central area. It is good to note that if one checks the prices of property in these areas in the property pages, they are all exorbitantly high and over priced.

Since both residents of Swieqi and Qui-si-Sana are taking the NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude, what should the residents of Birzebbuga, Marsascala, and Kalkara, to mention a few, do? These residents protest and air their concerns but fall short of reporting their concerns to the EU. Even after all the protests made, the authorities steamrollered over them and constructed a power station, increased the area of the Freeport, increased the area of the recycling plant, and is permitting building in the valley with the consequence that residences below can be flooded. One shouldn't forget that they have to put up with all the noise and dirt the development brings with it every day.

Ah! I forgot. Maybe it’s because the residents of these areas vote in a certain way?

I would like to ask which place, except for the old cities, didn't have any development over the years? Do the Swieqi residents expect to live cut off from the rest of the island? Development is part and parcel of progress.

The point I wish to put forward is that if they are threatening to take their complaint to the EU then the people of the South have an even more plausible reason to complain against the hardships they endure on a day to day basis. I think before one thinks of himself and his immediate surroundings one should think of other fellow citizens who are worse off!

David Borda

MARSASCALA