This is, if you will, a tale of two cities – one with a glorious history, where proud signs of its legacy abound, and where the residents are friendly, welcoming and possessed of a hope that their city will once again stand tall and embrace its glorious heritage.

The other city is down-trodden, seen by many as a “problem child”, and taken advantage of by cynical opportunists at every turn. A classic urban contrast, and one which plays out all over the world. Except in this case, our two cities are actually one: Senglea. The first Senglea I spoke of can be seen quite readily – a city whose glorious history rivals that of any European capital, a city where the sun gives light to a majestic view, spilling out an energy so primal it threatens to ignite the soul. One struggles to comprehend the enormity of that impossibly yellow stone, clasped as it is between the deep, mysterious blue of the sea and that open, exhilarating, gasp inducing wash of blue that is the Senglean sky. And yet all too often, as one sits on the edge of reality – puzzled as to whether this sensual overflow is all real, the second Senglea makes its presence known. And it is unfortunately this Senglea that motivates my letter. In the second Senglea, outsiders give little thought to the innate beauty of the city, to its abundant positive features and people. It is a Senglea that others look to take advantage of. In this Senglea, Mepa seems content to approve, nay encourage in the name of progress, the installation of gambling premises into a historic building. A building that is fondly remembered by many in Senglea as being the school in the wake of the Second World War – it was a place of stability and hope, in a time of upheaval and turmoil.

In the basement of this building was once a confectionery shop, providing an innocent dalliance to hungry school children, with time, the shop was converted into a beauty-studio, its hard working owner providing a useful and creative function. Now, with the blessing of Mepa this shop will become a gambling den, with rows of automated money-eating machines, enticing the down-trodden with the promises of a quick win.

In reality all that it will provide is yet another way for the cynical to exploit Senglea, taking money from those who can least afford to lose it, degrading a neighbourhood that could be so much more – a parasitic leech, sucking the dignity, grandeur and lifeblood from this fine City. All this within metres of one of this Islands’ finest churches.

Well done Mepa, this is your progress, another of these dark, satanic mills you have sanctioned. Turn a blind eye as the soul is continually ripped from our grandest places by those too cynical to recognise true beauty.

Senglea and the Sengleans deserve better. And you Mepa, should know better.

Corin Moss

Senglea