We recently had to listen to a number of statements made by our self-proclaimed IT expert and Minister for Investment Dr Austin Gatt with regard to the manufacturing industry and the price of energy because of the hike in oil prices.
Starting off with the most recent stunt, our taxes have been shamelessly spent on propaganda in local newspapers in order to convince us that all the decisions that have been taken on fuel prices have been right, that dumping the fuel price increase on us is both justified and necessary and that all the statements made by anyone opposing the government, are false and crazy. Hasn’t Dr Gatt realised yet that he does not form part of a political party propaganda machine anymore but is now responsible for one critical
ministry? Dr Gatt, you have no right to use my money to right the mess you have made. We are
not interested in your opinion and explanations, we are interested in solutions. At the end of the day everyone has an opinion, even idiots.
The fuel price increase was a long time coming, and has been accelerated by recent international events. What proposals and tangible plans have our politicians come up with for renewable energy? None! Our country can capitalise, all year round, on the long hours of solar and wind energy that could easily boost our capacity by 10 per cent. Why are we not tapping any EU funds for such projects? Is it simply incompetence?
Going back a couple of weeks, our dear minister also publicly stated that the manufacturing industry has no future in this country. I would have accepted this being said by anybody, but definitely not the minister responsible for attracting foreign investment. This time the current popular excuse called China and India has been rolled out as an explanation. Yet nothing is mentioned about the quality and conditions of work that exist in these countries, or will the next offers be Chinese conditions? Can someone explain to us why in much more expensive European countries efforts are being made to retain their manufacturing industry? Because they can foresee the long-term results of allowing such countries to gobble up their technology and manufacturing industry. However Dr Gatt has thrown in the towel and accepted a technical knock-out. He is no longer convinced that he is good for the job that was assigned to him. Under normal circumstances, such people are removed from their job because they are no longer capable of doing it.
Yet in this country these things seem to go unnoticed by the people who should be taking action. Arrogance has become the order of the day when someone does not agree and solutions are still not being delivered.
Alexander Galea