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‘Let This Be Fair Warning’: The Mensija Neighbourhood Watch In San Ġwann Is Seriously Getting Out Of Hand

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At a time when everyone is vigilantly on the look-out for littering, incorrect parking or damaged trees, one Neighbourhood Watch has gone a step too far, targeting a prominent environmental activist for a crime she didn’t commit.

Catherine Mercieca, who is an administrator with St Paul’s Bay Clean Up, was spotted walking through Mensija Road, San Ġwann, with a bag full of plastic bottles that she was planning to use in a fitness exercise.

However, when she returned to her car, she found a note waiting for her, accusing her of dumping the bottles in the area

“Dear Ms (driver of the vehicle). Please go and collect back the large bag of plastic waste you deposited on the corner of Mensija Street at 5:08pm today. If you do this again we will be left with no option other than to report you to the local council and place the CCTV footage with the authorities. Let this be fair warning – Mensija neighbourhood watch.”

Mercieca took to social media to clarify the situation

“To say that I was left bewildered is an understatement.”

I started asking around if they know who is behind this neighbourhood watch so that I can talk to him and tell him/her/them that this was a misunderstanding from their side.”

“Now, while I fully applaud these kinds of gestures, I would like to tell you to get your facts right before taking action and to never make any assumptions. I even ask you to watch the CCTV cameras and check exactly at which point did I deposit the bag on the corner of the street!!!! At no point did the bag even touch the ground!! I carried it along, took it inside with me, used it contents and when I was done, I came back out with it and replaced it in my car with the intention of using it again another time (reusing plastic, you know!!).”

“Whoever knows me knows that i am so much against littering. I am one of the administrators of the St Pauls Bay Clean Up group on facebook and I have organised and participated in various clean-ups, and I always carry a garbage bag at the back of my car to place litter that I collect along the way. Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing garbage taken out on the wrong day and seeing litter lying around (which unfortunately we have a lot of in my locality).”

“This letter stuck to my windscreen seems like a joke!”

“However, I would like to end on a positive note. I must say that I love the idea behind this neighbourhood watch a lot and would love to see it implemented by many other neighbourhoods. I just propose that you make sure you get your facts right first however!!”

While it’s great to be vigilant, especially in your hometown, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you don’t just start assuming things and end up targeting someone who is actually on your side.

What do you make of this story?

WATCH NEXT: Macedonian Vigilante Shouts Down St Paul’s Bay Neighbours For Leaving Trash In The Middle Of The Street

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]

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