Reference is made to the letter published in your daily on Thursday, 12 August entitled Sliema – the forgotten town, by Robert Pace Bonello.

His assertion comes at a time when the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs has, and still is, undertaking various embellishment projects in the area.

Allow me to point out some of the works which have been carried out by this ministry during the past two years. A number of residential pavements have been redone together with upgrading of the underground services.

These roads include: Sir Arthur Mercieca, Mons. De Piro, St Pius V and Sir Luigi Camilleri. Major paving projects have also been undertaken in Cathedral Street and Tower Road (from the Ferries to Pjazetta) which additionally included the laying of new underlying services and re-surfacing of the roads.

St Anne’s Square is a living monument showing that Sliema is surely not forgotten. It is sometimes hard to re-picture the grotesque structure that bogged down the soul of this square. Today, this has been replaced by fountains and benches within breathing space from the business district enjoyed by shoppers and residents alike. The Ministry has also installed another fountain further up Tower Road dedicated to Johnny Navarro, thereby enhancing even further the pedestrian area.

During the summer period, government has also installed new beach facilities including upgraded railings, more bins and boarded walkways in order to provide easier access to the sea all along the Sliema coast. The first phase of the upgrade of Qui Si Sana promenade has also been completed. Vehicular access to the beach has been cut-off along with increased pedestrian access onto the promenade. Work is well underway on the second phase that includes the much needed upgrade of the Qui Si Sana garden and which should be ready later on this year. The total cost for these is in the region of €2.2 million.

It seems Mr Pace Bonello has forgotten all these works and is, therefore, not being fair and reasonable when stating that Sliema is forgotten, much in the same way that other localities have not been forgotten. Suffice it to mention the embellishment and upgrading taking place in Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk and other places in order to enhance the national product and create a better living ambience for the population at large.

Keith Galea

Communications Officer Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs