I refer to the letter entitled “City Gate artists defend their presence” (TMIS, 21 August).

I would like to thank these people for so

effectively degrading the entrance to our most important city.

Thank you for making the area look more like a market from the third world rather than an important urban space of a new member of the EU.

Thank you for making every self-respecting Maltese hang his or her head in shame as he/she walks into the city. I am no mind reader but my guess is most tourists wonder how the Maltese could have allowed the area to fall into such degradation.

The so-called “artists” are not the only ones to thank.

There is the bread vendor and the taxis.

There are cars moving through crowds of people along the central axis of Republic Street, as they negotiate entry into or exit from the Freedom Square car park.

There is the kiosk under the tree (just before the bridge on the right as you enter the City). The kiosk location is totally out of sync with the layout of the bus terminus and more importantly blocks the flow of pedestrians as they disembark from the buses. Thanks to the nameless and faceless bureaucrat who many years ago issued the permit for this kiosk.

One might forgive the authorities for not redeveloping City Gate because of lack of funds, even if this is somewhat debatable. One cannot however understand how the authorities have over the years allowed this important location to become so shameful.

One cannot understand why the authorities should not take a firm stand on the matter as well as invest some funds for a proper facelift of City Gate and its immediate area.

Alfred Zahra

Chairman

Board of Governors

Valletta Alive Foundation