MICHAEL CARABOTT
A year or so ago, there was a whole hullabaloo because garbage was being transported to Malta from Gozo on the Gozo ferry.
This issue was brought up repeatedly in Parliament, and eventually a solution was found whereby the smells were contained and the matter died a natural death. Although that issue was solved, another has now arisen.
Last week, Wednesday night to be precise, something just as bad took place on the ferryboat. It was the 11pm crossing and people in the upstairs area started turning up their noses as a bad smell permeated through the vessel. Certain toilets were closed and people assumed that there might be a drainage problem or a blockage of some sort.
When the boat pulled into Cirkewwa and people began to go back to their cars, the source of the smell was immediately clear. A lorry was carrying hundreds (perhaps over a thousand) of live chickens (in tiny little cages) to Malta, presumably for slaughter. The smell was abominable. Maltese, Gozitans and tourists alike were fighting to hold back the gag reflex. I wish I could describe the smell, but I have honestly never come across anything as revolting in my whole life.
Granted, there were not that many people on board the ferry, and another given is that it was a late night crossing, but still people were disgusted, and had every right to be.
People pay good money to go to Gozo, the prices are higher than they have ever been. And when a paying customer has to put up with something like this, they have every right to complain. Apart from being disgusting to the senses (both sight and smell) there is also the danger of disease being spread. It is a known fact that avian faeces is a possible cause of disease and something really ought to be done about this situation.
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Someone recently related a heated argument his mother had with the police after she asked them to have a car parked in front of their driveway on Thursday night towed.
A Naxxar woman called the police because people visiting the Trade Fair had parked in front of the driveway She rightly asked for it to be towed away. The police said they would get there as soon as possible, and they did, only to tell her that they would not have it towed away because there was no no parking sign affixed to the gate.
She pointed out that it was obvious that the car was blocking access to the driveway of the house and she could not get in or out with her car. The woman added that she could not even park anywhere else nearby because all the spaces were taken up by people visiting the Trade Fair.
She persisted, but to no avail. The police refused to do anything about it. Granted, the woman did not have a No Parking sign, but after visiting the house in question, I saw that it was very obvious that the car parked there completely blocked all access to the house and the driveway.
What does one have to do in such instances? Draw their own No Parking sign before calling out our very bright police officers for assistance? A degree of common sense should be employed in such cases.