Many buildings in our capital city are abandoned and in an advanced state of dilapidation. Many of these buildings have other buildings above them, beneath them, adjacent to them or in some manner connected to them. If one of these buildings collapses, and years of non-use and lack of maintenance are making this possibility nearer to reality, catastrophic consequences could concur: then one would imagine our politicians and councillors will come to life with all the usual idiotic hullabaloo as they normally do on such occasions to hide their lack of initiative in doing nothing about a foreseen situation before it was too late.

Valletta residents are aware of how ominous this actuality is. On one occasion I confronted a prominent councillor. The reply, stereotyped reply, was that if there was no report, there was nothing to act upon. Going to file a report in this country ends up by so much red tape that many citizens just end up leaving it in the hands of fate. Hence I am forwarding a suggestion that should be taken up by the Valletta local council and perhaps copied by other local councils with identical issues, such as those in the Three Cities.

A register should be made available at the local council for residents to go and register immovable properties that are considered as collapsible buildings, indicating the address and details if known as to who the owners might be. Naturally the registrations should be thoroughly followed up by the council. It will be up to the latter to report to the residents within no more than six months about the outcome of the investigations and what remedial action is being taken.

This should be the first step to alleviate the apprehensions of citizens that their council is indeed doing something to protect them from this threat of collapsible edifices.

Emmy Bezzina

Alpha Liberal Democratic Party