Many people are complaining about noise pollution and moreover about the scandalous slackness by the authorities to enforce the law in this respect. Who knows why the authorities are not taking this issue seriously – that is by not enforcing the law? This situation is very anti-democratic and one feels one is living under a dictatorship – the minority takes over from the majority regardless what the law specifies and the price that has to be paid.

Do the authorities really believe that by ignoring such complaints the citizens are going to give up? Lately I read that there are initiatives to set up a Noise Abatement Society and this is a step in the right direction and is an ideal opportunity for all to unite and take a stand.

On Saturday, 11 July at the Saluting Battery just below the Upper Barraka Gardens a private activity was underway and the very loud music coming from there lasted well beyond 11pm – the time stipulated by the law. How is it that public places are used to annoy people ad nauseum! I have been complaining repeatedly about this inconvenience and emailed the competent authorities without even receiving an acknowledgment. Therefore, the message seems to be that whoever wants to register a profit one can do so by breaking the laws and by making people sick.

I am positive that the competent authorities will not reply at all, even though all government departments are to monitor newspapers for complaints that are raised by the public in general.

Joe Abela

Senglea