I looked with great sadness at a photo of the Jerma Hotel standing proud and rejected. This seems to be synonymous with the passing of old and valued friends.

I saw the Jerma being built in the early days of Independence. It has hosted many famous guests and was the flagship of tourism on the south coast. It must have had a large staff who, with their contribution, helped immensely to the success of this very popular venue. Its importance to the local economy must have been immeasurable. Now it stands waiting to pass out of existence after having been so important to Malta .

Yet this is only one of the many hotels that once served Malta so well that have passed into oblivion. The hotels were served by loyal and faithful staff and I can only pray that they have found other employment.

I suppose that this is all in the name of progress yet even the names pass away and are eventually forgotten.

In heralding the new venues perhaps it is forgotten that it was only through the success of the old and now departed venues that Malta was in a position to rebuild.

Perhaps, like people, these old hotels are to be forgotten once they are no longer wanted.

D. Woods

Scarborough.UK