I read M. Mallia’s contribution (TMID, 1 December) with interest.

He is right on many things. First of all, it is true that when “something big is about to happen in Malta, the country gets a much-needed facelift”.

Where Mr or Ms Mallia is wrong is in the use of the word “country”. I do not think that it is the whole country that benefits from State visits or activities such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

It is only those areas from where the dignitaries will be driven through or the place they will be visiting that are given a revamp. The rest of the country continues to be neglected.

Having said this, it is important that such events do bring about a general clean-up and the fixing of roads. We do hope that more dignitaries will come over regularly so that Malta will be kept in ship-shape condition.

The important thing is that for once these should be taken to areas that are not the usual ones. Maybe next time, other places will be cleaned up properly and the roads will be surfaced.

Hamrun