I've been coming to Gozo every year for a long time now and in my opinion it's like heaven on earth. I lost the rose-tinted glasses a long time ago and realise that like everywhere else on earth it has its faults and its problems but when you love a place the way I do you try to accept those things.

I've been watching the process of the resurfacing of the square in front of the church in Qala and have to say that the guys did a really good job there, but as usual it has not been without its problems.

The first problem arose when the Qala Mayor decided that the trees should be removed. I've noticed over the years that Malta seems to have a thing about destroying trees even though they are not exactly plentiful on the islands and come up with all sorts of excuses to do so. I think on this occasion it was because birds roosted in the trees and did their business on the benches below.

A problem by the way that is easily solved by providing the benches with covers as has been done elsewhere. Another excuse is that the roots damage pavements and water pipes. Back home here we have oak trees and chestnut trees growing beside pavements and they damage nothing. Anyway the trees survived this time apart from the two palms, which I guess was a way for the Mayor to save face.

Now I've heard that he wants to close the square off and stop cars from using it in case they dirty the new surface. What is this guy’s problem? That's like spending good money on an expensive umbrella and then not taking it out in case it gets wet!

Now as far as I know that square belongs to the church so does the Mayor have a problem with the church which would explain why he keeps going against their wishes, or does he just want to stir things up for the people of Qala? If it's the latter what exactly is his agenda? What does he get out of causing all this trouble for a village he is supposed to represent?

If the Mayor decides to answer this perhaps he can also explain where the benches from the square have disappeared to? From what I have heard there was not a single bench available during the Festa. Were the council ordered to remove these and if so why? If that is not the case were they stolen and if so has a report been made to the police?

If I remember right the Mayor was saying before this work took place that once it was finished cars would be allowed back onto the square as normal so why has he now changed his mind? I guess the main question he needs to answer is why as Mayor, someone who should be uniting the community, he is continuously trying to cause trouble within that community? I just can't figure him out and I'm sure others are asking the same questions.

James A. Tyrrell

Larne, Northern Ireland