I am normally against statements which try to give credit to those writing them. The 'I told you so syndrome' is something which I normally dislike. However, I am going to break my own 'rule', and for once, make use of the phrase 'I told you so'. 

Writing on The Malta Independent late in October 2018, about the new way in which rubbish was going to be collected, I drew the attention to whoever was, (and still is responsible) that certain changes cannot be imposed from high up. 

In particular I referred to the system of rubbish collection in St. Paul's Bay. For several years this collection used to take place on a daily basis from Monday to Sunday, 365 days every year. Yet, people still found it convenient to throw their rubbish around just after the collection truck passed by. The more time passes the more I became sure that at least some of these people were doing so on purpose. 

As of the 31 October 2018 the normal, daily rubbish collection has come to an end. No collection on Sundays, and instead of the daily collection, now the same rubbish is only collected on few occasions. The obvious result was that of have rubbish left over for two, three and sometimes, more days, on our pavements, on the corners of various streets, and in full view of one and all.

While abuse has to be condemned, out rightly, whoever imposed this system has to be condemned as well. I decided to write this article after viewing a tv programme in which a representative of the cleansing department, several times, pinpointed St. Paul's Bay as the place were abuse is rampant, of course never mentioning the wrong decision which was taken by his own superiors.

Besides that, a group of other people are, from time to time, making use of a wrong imposed decision to glorify the Government for 'its intervention', and making sure that the Parliamentary secretary responsible for this sector is depicted as some sort of 'superior being'. 

I believe it is an insult to everyone that people throw their rubbish away the way they do. I believe the Parliamentary Secretary is not the one who invites this type of comment. Those who are making use of these comments, often do so to get credit themselves, or else to attack others whom they dislike so much that they are prepared to misinform one and all.

Cleansing is everybody's responsibility. To keep localities clean is very expensive, This is more so in areas like St. Paul's Bay, where many do not even recognise their own neighbours, let alone those who live some corners away. In my article published in October, I was very blunt that if the necessary money to provide the same daily collection was not going to be provided, the locality would become worse than ever before. Since October, one daily and one weekly newspaper have published a number of articles, and photos of rubbish in different parts of the locality. They have also pointed their fingers here and there, without really providing any concrete measure that could be taken to safeguard the cleanliness of the locality. 

On a daily basis, I see rubbish bags with red stickers affixed to them. On a daily basis, I see corners full of all types of rubbish. On a daily basis I receive calls lamenting about this situation. On a daily basis I follow those who try to discredit those who really love the locality, to try and give credit to those who have never contributed a minute of their lives for the benefit of the locality and the  residents

Unfortunately, with so much going on at the national level a vast number of local issues are simply not discussed, and instead of real discussions, it is rumours and rumour mongers who get through to the residents. 

While bars and clubs used to be the centre for such schemes these schemes have now found their way to the social media. Those who are using the social media as a means of misinformation may very well be happy with their actions and misinformation. Those receiving the information should make sure that they evaluate the same information before accepting the contents as if these contents were some truth coming directly from far away.

The way forward to address the challenge surrounding cleanliness is not that of attacking those doing their job in drawing attention to the correct channels. The real address of these challenges will take place when the means to solve them are made available. Foremost amongst these is the provision of the necessary funds to ensure good use of same funds for the benefit of the localities concerned.

Three months after the introduction of the new system, there may well be localities where collaboration has achieved good results, yet there are other localities where the new system has caused a bigger mess than the one which existed before. Address these cases if success is to be achieved.

This was and still is the real challenge.

Censu Galea is a former PN Minister and MP