I happened to be reading the newspaper at the garden in Birkirkara Road, St Julian’s lately when a gang of four workers arrived on site.

I heard them talking to each other, mocking a report sent to their office that a crudely cut tree trunk lay embedded in the narrow green path near the telephone box in the area.

One of them, who seemed to be their foreman, moaned that they had to come over to see this trunk after someone phoned to report how dangerous it was, especially to children who usually play here.

When they identified the trunk, one of the workmen simply touched it, murmured something to his colleagues, and decided to leave it where it was. Nothing was done.

Immediately, the four sat on one of the hard benches, joking among themselves. After a few minutes, they changed the bench they were sitting on, most certainly thinking that it was softer than the other. But when they realised that they were all of the same unbearable hardness, they decided to leave.

Seeing all this, I realised what a waste of public money goes on in this country. Most probably that was their only job for the day as it was already 11 am. Four wages out of our pockets went up in air! Shame!

The trunk was left there where it was, and is still a danger to children who play there.

I take the opportunity to ask when the San Giljan local council is going to repair the many street lights in the same area. Many have gone off quite some time ago and most of the garden is in pitch darkness from 5pm to the following day.

G. Gatt

San Gwann