Not much has changed in the 200 years or so since Lord Byron proclaimed Malta an island of “yells, bells and smells”.

The “yells and bells” tradition continues unabated, from relatively early in the morning − when those accustomed to wake up later than the majority through necessity or custom − are obscenely disturbed by the loud blowing of horns by selfish gas distributors and bread sellers announcing their arrival and hasten to deliver their merchandise and rush off.

The worse level of noise pollution, however, usually peaks where people gather or have to wait, immaterial of whether this takes place during a church function, a funeral or waiting their turn in a hospital waiting room.

Such offensive behaviour also occurs all too often on public transport more especially on the ferries crossing the Gozo Channel. Here loud talking and shouting across the lounge is intolerable and disgraceful.

The other common and unlawful practice that contributes to unbearable noise pollution is the habit some Maltese have of modifying or removing silencers from their motorcycles and cars to produce horrendous engine noise, revealing their stupidity on the road.

The worst and certainly the most serious noise offenders are unquestionably the intolerable and supposedly unlawful firework bangs let off at any time of the day especially late at night, denying residents a good night’s rest and terrifying children out of their wits.

Another common source of avoidable and controllable ear-splitting noise is that in hospitals and senior persons’ homes where anything moving on wheels is surely not regularly maintained and lubricated. More care is also needed in these places to avoid, or at least reduce, the banging of doors and cabinets and to do away with the bad habit of staff communicating with each other and with patients over long distances at the top of their voice.

To attract more visitors to the islands, we must be not only tourist-friendly but peace and quiet-friendly too!

Edwin Calleja

BALZAN