Watch, hear u xarukaza

During the past week both The Times of Malta and the Malta Independent reported concerns from active and responsible citizens about the sorry state of affairs in Gozo. I really feel sad when I read such letters to the editors. Not because these respectful individuals are creating public awareness of the shabbiness on Gozo; but because, week after week, month after month and year after year and no drastic actions are taken in order to stop illegal dumping in our countryside.

Rightly so, the correspondent expressed her concerns over this sorry state of affairs and said: "It is mind-boggling that in such a small community nobody hears or sees anything and if they do their lips are sealed. A typical case of hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil! It is simply not possible that the total population of Malta and Gozo are blind, deaf and dumb!"

However, I would like to make it public here that there are many of us Gozitans who are proud of our island. Indeed, we are aware that the need to protect our environment benefits the economy of the island and is essential to our livelihood.

Could it be that Gozitans refrain from reporting abuses because their report of abuse is not taken seriously by the police? Or could it be that the individual making the report has no form of protection from those few bullies who, because they enjoy the favour of certain politicians, think that they are above the law and therefore can act with impunity?

For sure we have ministers and MPs looking the other way while giving us a smile.

A feature on the print media lately was by the Gozo-lover Malta Independent journalist Francesca Vella. The focus Illegal dumping – Gozo’s silent killer (TMID 18 January). Click the link. I highly recommend it.

I like it and I'm happy we have a journalist with a backbone at Independent Malta.