There are less than 150 commercial premises in Sliema, owned, in the vast majority, by people who do not live in Sliema. In many instances, owners run several outlets and consequently the number of owners is greatly reduced. On the other hand, there are about 15,000 residents, a large percentage of whom are senior citizens and who rarely express their views to the media.

Correspondence on residential parking in Sliema appears daily in all the newspapers, invariably against. Sometimes editorials are biased against this scheme, which is understandable because a large percentage of the papers’ income is derived from adverts by the commercial outlets.

A letter is usually not published just because it is in favour of this scheme (one of mine must have been thrown in the paper basket). Recently, a full page appeared in a newspaper showing an interview with eight people (with photos), seven of whom do not reside in Sliema, and the one from Sliema was undecided.

The Sliema local council must not let itself be bullied by a handful of arrogant owners; as a matter of fact one prominent lady owner is said to have declared that this scheme would come in to force over her dead body.

Just for the record, I am a Sliema resident and I am also the owner of a pharmacy.

Francis Formosa Ph.C

SLIEMA