I am writing in a positive frame-of-mind to express satisfaction that yet another Member of Parliament – in this case Robert Arrigo – has, at long last, shown an interest in the affairs of Ta’ Xbiex. I sincerely trust that his anticipated interventions will, in the immediate future, yield better results than those which have led to so much disappointment to the residents of Qui-Si-Sana.

Although I am the mayor of Ta’ Xbiex, I am writing in my personal capacity to advance some observations in reply to Mr Arrigo (TMID, 25 August) and Mr Balzia (TMID, 30 August).

The problem of prostitution in the locality is a long-standing challenge which continues to defy the forces of law and order. The Ta’ Xbiex council has thrown its resources into the fight. Contrary to what has been suggested by your correspondents, the council installed CCTV cameras in particular areas, not without results.

These cameras are still functional and several persons have been arraigned in court for prostitution.

Various PQs tabled by another opposition MP bears this out, and I would presume that Mr Arrigo would have noticed the facts. He failed to make reference to them in his article.

This is, in the final analysis, a police matter, and although the police authorities have been active in this area, there is more that could be done, especially by way of more frequent patrols. It is unfair to expect the council to play policeman.

It is common knowledge that the Ta’ Xbiex council has insisted regularly with all government entities with a view to embellishing the seafront of Ta’ Xbiex, in line with embellishment works carried out at Msida, Gzira and Sliema.

There have been several official consultations on this matter and the proposals of the Ta’ Xbiex council have been advanced and amply discussed with no results.

I have come to know that a public consultation was also held at the Ta’ Xbiex Nationalist Party Club. Admittance was by invitation only and not open to all. I don’t know whether or not Mr Arrigo was invited and whether he attended that meeting. The Ta’ Xbiex council was not informed, let alone invited, to that meeting. This is surely not the way to go about meeting the aspirations of the residents of Ta’ Xbiex.

Our persistent endeavours over the past years have not been in vain and there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. During the recent discussion in Parliament on the Budget document, specific reference was made to the outstanding embellishment works at the Ta’ Xbiex seafront.

While there is life, there is hope!

Mr Balzia does not seem to have shown sufficient appreciation in that there has not been enough “good effort from all the authorities concerned”. Had he done so, he would have conceded that the Ta’ Xbiex council has played its part to the limit, only to be let down for some considerable time at central government level.

Antoinette Vassallo

Ta’ Xbiex