From Dr J. M. Vella

On 17 August my letter on excessive noise, which is affecting the whole community of Zebbug and its environs, was published. The noise that I hear is not a hum but drum beats; it is still as loud as before and is still going on till the hours of early morning. I have waited in vain for someone in authority to read my letter and to receive a positive reply from someone at the MTA or the police, or Mepa or, for that matter, from someone in government so I could report progress on this matter for the good of our community.

Instead, I read more similar complaints in the papers made by other citizens who have to put up with the same unbearable drums.

As for our government-paid powers that be, total silence. I guess maybe our voice will eventually die out with the beat of the drums. The only letter worth mentioning is that of Roger de Giorgio who in his wisdom wrote: “Our patrons complain profusely about our switching off the music at 4am in accordance with our licence.” How nice!!

Then he acknowledges that he has received complaints from residents because of the “hum” they hear, adding that anything else is an exaggeration.

Mr de Giorgio observed that wind direction, atmospheric pressure and topography area influence sound levels, causes a hum that reaches villages 2.5 kilometres away from Gianpula.

He ended by saying that his operates within the law, with full appreciation of the right of all residents in nearby villages to a good night’s sleep.

Well sir, talk is free, action is what matters. To say Zebbug is a village is absurd. As for the beating of drums we refer to and which you say is only a hum, one would laugh at it, were it not such a crying shame.

No Mr de Giorgio, your hum is reaching us as drum beats, your nuisance to a village is affecting an area as big as Gozo in population, yet you continue, under the pretence of a licence, to terrorise us without a chance of having a good night’s sleep just because you have a licence.

What is the use of the government of the day promising us a better tomorrow when we cannot even get a decent night’s sleep?

Yes, I repeat I voted to be a European in a European Union so as not to be ignored by those with money and/or authority but to be heard, and if my arguments stand, action should be taken for the betterment of the whole community.

It is a fact that since it opened its outside area it has become a mecca for drug pushing, as it is constantly being reported in the press. This is giving a bad name to our community.

Not to mention the dangerous driving when we hear the noise of speeding cars on the roads when this place closes.

Of course one can say it is all an exaggeration; after all it is good for the tourism industry.

Joseph M. Vella

ZEBBUG