Contrary to all that was said, the former Ship Building site in Marsa, as most recently stated by Dr Muscat, will be converted into a site providing maintenance and servicing for the oil and gas sector and other ancillary activities, such as the training academy.
This is rather strange when one considers the original intentions for how the place should be utilised. However, it follows the trend of things Labour as transformed by Dr Muscat.
Indeed, on 31 May 2013, the media reported that there would be a new yacht marina for the former Shipbuilding site in Marsa. This made sense, since the Vittoriosa marina was doing well and such a concept fell into line with the overall tourism and service product development in the region. It also reflected the mentality of the majority, who were supportive of the economic trend of the time.
With the intense construction on the island, everywhere and continuously, there remained a small opportunity to divert tourists’ attention to the lovely sea and the fact that Malta does not have polluting factories and industries.
That small mercy is now no longer available to apply as more and more touristic zones are becoming stooges for the selfish and narrow-mindedness of Labour’s business hub of friends and ministers and the sorry excuse of jobs for the south or whatever slogan is pulled out of the hat.
Come January 16th, 2015 the slow transformation was beginning and Ablecare Oilfield Services were named as the preferred bidder for the Marsa shipbuilding site for development into a maritime hub.
Surprise, surprise, on April 26, 2016 it is announced that a €55 million investment will be made to turn the former shipbuilding site into the Mediterranean Maritime Hub, which will provide, not a yacht marina or similar benign projects, but maintenance and servicing for the oil and gas sector. Besides all the ancillary facilities, the project also includes a new academy for teaching trades in the maritime industry. “The jobs created by these activities will undoubtedly have a positive effect on other services in the area.” Definitely more land and sea traffic, more pollution and spoiling the skyline with unsightly oil rigs and other steel construction needed for the purpose. Noise will most probably also factor into the mix.
The essence of the matter is, though, how all announcements from Dr Muscat start off like graceful and majestic birds migrating over the blue Mediterranean sea but over time, become sad creatures, covered in oil on their wings and body, plucked from polluted seas.
Is there no concept that they, the government of Dr Muscat, can remain faithful to? Does it always have to be a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde horror? How do we go from white flapping sails or sleek cruise liners and wealthy owners to oil and gas rigs and a recruitment agency whilst still calling it a Maritime hub?
It started with the power station and grand statements about cleaning the air and lowering the price of electricity. We all know what that led to or is intended to lead to. An ugly, dangerous and unfinished job, serving not the well being of the people or making economic sense, but simply a tool for other purposes and an albatross around the people’s neck.
Then we had the Zonqor Cinderella story telling us how this unused and filthy land would be turned into the economic dream for the south and actually make it an intellectual hub with a university. Another gruesome tale because, as we learnt, the land is actually beautiful, farmed and of importance to the health and social wellbeing of the inhabitants.
Not to mention, Enemalta itself and its employees who have been divested from the entity and into the President’s garden, the Police and the Army also brought down to such a low level with all sorts of abuse of power and interference, Airmalta in the pipeline for further changes in staffing, Gozo hospital, Mater Dei and health clinics all struggling to keep up and constant, daily doses of what labour does as only labour does.
This new Maritime entity will provide a service of getting employment by many foreign workers, such as Pakistanis and Indians. One of the activities of the company is Human Resources Recruitment. Dr Muscat’s recent trip to Dubai may have been educational in seeing how they manage the imported Indian workers there. They actually have crowded housing for them out in the desert and transport them in hot, closed mini-buses to and from building sites. There is no harm in Ableman International Ltd. having a recruitment agency but why do we have to be told that the main benefit to the south will be the 150 jobs this company will create? Much of all that Dr Muscat says and does is nothing more than window-dressing. A behind-the-scenes look will show up all the junk and quite another picture. Does this €55 million investment really mean that we gave up our land at a low price for a private entity to benefit from? Are they trying to turn our attention away from similar facts by dangling the “150 jobs for the south” claim? Where will the €55 million actually be coming from and in what form? Could it be another loan sponsored by the public?
The timing of it all is also rather suspicious, with labour intensively doing all they can to fend off the purge of its supporters and divert attention away from the Panama scandal and its protagonists. The panic is in and the conjurers have been brought in to bring the bunnies out of the hat. Pirates of the Caribbean the lot of them.
I really do hope that people come to their senses and take action when they can, to prevent a repeat of this divestment at the next election. It is hard to say, by that time, what would actually be left of the resources and assets of the island. It may be that our soul would have been changed, our minds clogged and our will hijacked. But an effort must and should be made to prevent further abuse of our heritage and the environment, the threats to the economy and to trust in the political system.
Weeks have passed and the shame brought upon the state of Malta is allowed to fester uncontrolled in the hope that in time people will move on and forget. In fact, the only outcome of the denial and paralysis surrounding the Panama trio is a distancing of the electorate from their will to vote. In all likelihood, what votes are lost in that way can be safely divested, whilst holding on to the core and making it sufficient for a marginal win for labour. “When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.” ― Euripedes, Orestes
"To vote is like the payment of a debt, a duty never to be neglected, if its performance is possible." – Rutherford B. Hayes (19th U.S. President).
And “Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” Abraham Lincoln
Unfortunately, to not vote is an option we can very ill afford. It is understandable that all the tricks of Dr Muscat have around 25,000 people fed-up and confused. I am certain that no one wants to hear of another electoral manifesto full of postered people and bulleted points. There is enough to see around us, of all the false words and fancy titles that mean nothing but the opposite. But here the challenge lies. What would you prefer? To remain in the position you have taken – that of equitable despair or a possibly painful but necessary decision that can relieve your burden? Because in truth, not to vote is a heavy burden to carry and others should not be made to suffer your moodiness.