Change the point of view, not the viewpoint

Wied il-Ghasel Bridge came under the spotlight recently following the addition of a 200metre fence to deter suicide attempts, seemingly to the approval of the general public. Mentioning this bridge by name immediately elicits the association to suicide. As a nearby resident, I feel compelled to voice a different opinion on the matter.

The public is probably inclined to think of the bridge at the end of Civil Defence Avenue as little more than a spot where an unusually high number of suicides occur. Admittedly, next to nothing has ever been done to change the bridge’s unfortunate reputation and clamouring about a shiny new anti-suicide fence certainly isn’t doing much to improve the situation.

Besides being an invaluable transport link, the bridge holds value as a tranquil landmark which allows for some quiet meditation owing to the relative seclusion, accessibility, and majestic views, which alas have now been spoiled. All this is being overshadowed by this location’s unsavoury tag, which led to the construction of the barricade. Meanwhile, the rest of the bridge has been neglected with uneven pavements, trees crooked and dying, a worn road surface, and lack of lighting at night. To top it all, what little appeal the bridge had because of the view, has now been taken away since attempting to admire the Mosta skyline through a wire mesh isn’t particularly gratifying.

It is time that residents of Mosta and the rest of the island learnt to challenge the prevailing attitude towards the bridge as a place of bad tidings. Maybe if the muchneeded rehabilitation is given, more people besides the few regulars would have an additional reason to visit and Mosta would re-gain its position as another place of interest. The bridge’s po- tential as a panoramic viewpoint and a place of inherent beauty and architectural charm ought to be recognised.

Above all, is an actual physical barrier the best solution one could come up with? Why aren’t people trapped in psychological turmoil getting the support they need before they arrive at this desperate stage? And is it not shameful that this country can only keep the more vulnerable members of society away from harm merely by reducing the possibility to commit suicide? The key lies with us, the people, to educate ourselves about the causes that lead to this sorry state and to know when and how to offer support or seek help. We need to mature and combat negative stigma and taboo and work together to tackle the problem at its roots, or else we’ll be barricading the Valletta Bastions and Dingli Cliffs next.

The trees (or their stumps) have become more of an eyesore than an embellishment

The disastrous state of the pavement

Besides the poor upkeep, this shot shows the uneven pavement, with associated hazards to pedestrians. All photos taken by the author

This tree succumbed to last December's strong winds. It remains in this condition at time of writing