I was invited over to visit the Kappara area, a traditionally residential place which has to cope with a major embassy, a large school and a local council that does not give much attention to it. These were the basic ingredients. This has spurred many residents to ask and claim for proper representation, via their own Kappara hamlet or local council.

There exist enough residents for a local council to be formed to allow the residents to organise themselves and see to their own needs. I have seen no records of any public funding going towards Kappara, nor any projects from the council towards Kappara.

If the central government gives out funds according to population in that locality, then, it is the council’s obligation to divide, percentage wise, that funding across all the locality, no matter how far that locality is.

I therefore ask the San Gwann council to formerly draw up a plan for the Kappara area. Going round the streets one notices pavements that have not been cared for at all, except those surrounding the embassy. Street cleaners see to make a cameo appearance every Christmas, rather than regular visits.

In keeping with the regional road diversion, many road signs are missing. These signs can help those many motorists that go through these streets. Signs that may very well help the residents avoid being hit by a car, only if these signs are visible, clear and maintained.

Even street names are still missing. If these have been taken away, then why have they not been replaced? Here the Malta Transport Authority should take some remedial action, go on the spot, see for themselves, talk to the residents, and get the whole area up to scratch. I have seen signs indicating sleeping policeman placed behind the actual bump, when, it’s obvious it should be put before the bump. No parking signs just looking one way.

The cherry on the cake came along with a visit to the garden, named after G. M. Camilleri, done in the early 1990s when it was attended by two gardeners. A far cry from today’s situation, where, maybe one gardener is seen taking care of the seasonal weeds once every three to four months.

Not a real service to the community. A garden should have flowers, trees rather than branches, and should be properly maintained, cleaned and rendered safe. Whoever is the responsible for the garden’s upkeep should be removed unless things come up to scratch.

This garden, or so-called garden, hosted some skate boarders, who come along at all times, even around midnight to skate board on the garden furniture. Here a lone policeman on duty in front of the embassy, has to cope with disturbance, noise and damage to property. Why cannot the council act and turn this area into a restful, peaceful, nice garden with all amenities? Kappara has a growing population too, and these areas are much sought after. Keeping it in the state I saw it is a monument to disgrace.

One last note on a different subject. We all saw queues of people lining up to give money to both political parties. A sudden thought crossed my mind that made me sweat, although in winter. I remember queuing up for so many commodities under the Labour government. Basic items such as toothpaste, chocolate and the like were scarce. Today we have it all and we complain. Our children have it all, and they do not know what we went through. What Malta passed through, and what Malta will pass through, if it decides to elect an alternative to the Nationalist Party.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP