Never before in the annals of Maltese legislation was there a bigger breakdown in communication than the chaotic situation over which Minister George Pullicino presided with regard to the introduction of the eco-contribution.

I understand that it was not George Pullicino’s week. He made the mistake of thinking that he could talk the people of Marsascala into accepting his proposal of expanding the recycling plant at San Antnin.

Really, he should have known better. God knows what he expected.

The only consolation is that people who saw the reception he was given, pitied him.

A few days ago, a mayor or councillor from Ghaxaq claimed on Smash TV that his wife paid 39c for a plastic bag. Others said that they were charged 10c by their supermarket for a bag that was previously supplied free. Such is the magnitude of confusion that now reigns that it has created the ideal conditions for exploitation and profiteering.

Even factories were thrown into confusion.

One bedding manufacturer was under the impression that he has to pay Lm1 for the bag into which he puts a pillow costing 80 cents, and another Lm3 for the bag in which he sells a mattress.

I have it straight from the horse’s mouth that a degradable bag costs no more than the previous non-degradable bag. I had it explained to me, that if the bedding manufacturer previously paid 10 cents for the non-degradable bag in which he puts a mattress, he can now use a degradable bag for the same price and the eco-contribution incurred will be just 1 cent.

This means that it will now cost him just 11 cents.

This applies to whatever the size of bag happens to be.

An excellent, badly-needed piece of legislation is

rendered a farce by the way it has been introduced.

The Maltese adage of the “Qattusa ferfuxija, frieh ghomja taghmel” (literally translated: “a hasty cat gives birth to blind kittens”) has never been more apt than in this case.

I hope that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, whom one has to congratulate for his efforts to bring us face to face with our economic realities, does not spoil it all by being too rash. People need time to catch their breath. He cannot put right overnight all the wrongs that successive short-sighted governments were responsible for.

Victor Spiteri

Attard