James Debono
A billboard depicting a curvy woman’s behind, covered by a tight, nearly invisible thong to advertise a foreign beer, has caught the eyes of newly elected Labour MP Anthony Agius Decelis, who is proposing the censorship of “offensive” billboards.
“Perhaps I might be a bit antiquated… but although I have no problems with what people do in their private life, one should not allow adverts which could negatively influence the public,” Agius Decelis, an electro-cardiographer, told MaltaToday.
Agius Decelis went as far as raising this issue in parliament, asking Transport, Infrastructure and Communicatins minister Austin Gatt whether any censorship or regulations existed on what pictures should be exposed on billboards, and whether anyone was responsible for the approval of pictures on billboards.
He also asked Gatt whether any remedy existed for citizens who feel that a particular billboard offends their sentiments.
But Gatt offered little solace to the Labour MP’s moral outrage. His crisp reply was that the Transport Authority only assesses applications for billboards on safety criteria.
When contacted, Agius Decelis confirmed his question was provoked by the German beer advert which has been installed for the past year. Only this week, the advert was replaced with another one showing the well-built torso of a man.
Apparently, the Transport Authority does not yet weigh the potential health hazard posed by sexy ads that distract drivers on the road.
Gatt told Agius Decelis to put his question to the minister concerned, although it isn’t clear who is responsible for the dignified portrayal of the human anatomy on billboards.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt