I refer to the press conference given by the chairman of Enemalta (TMIS, 1 January). He is chairman of the entity holding the monopoly for the provision of domestic gas cylinders. He said, “There isn’t a shortage of gas cylinders at the moment and there is no need for the people to panic.” Why, then did the distributor not give me an extra gas cylinder on 28 December, and the week before and the week after? The distributor told me I had no chance of getting a new cylinder before the end of January. This is no dated FAQ but the fact that I did not get a new cylinder. How could the chairman dare deny this fact? I wanted an extra cylinder, and his corporation was not able to provide it. He knows well enough that I am telling the truth, only it does not suit him to admit it. The chairman’s words are hypocritical prevarications and as such hold no credibility. Up there, at his plant in Enemalta, everyone is aware that

• All through 2005 the corporation was in the red regarding funds for the supply of fuel for electricity

• It would raise the cost of electricity

•The man in the street would be made to bear this burden

• The man in the street would resort to some other source of energy (like gas, maybe?) to heat his home to save some pennies

• The need to heat houses inevitably starts around Christmas time

• Consequently, there would be sudden increase in the demand for extra cylinders.

It is the same old wine in new bottles. Nobody hoards gas. If people do hoard then there would not be a need, would there? If the chairman just consults his corporation’s records and statistics on the amount of cylinders that are in the homes of his customers – the nation – and of the periodical sales statistics, he would have an inkling of the demands in particular times of the year and also the trends. I wrote all this in the press last year, and the year before that and before… and again last September. The people who abide up there know about it more than I do.

Their main area of specialisation is covering up the nether regions of those who appoint them, the politicians. Satisfying effectively the demands of the market and the needs of their clients does not figure at all in their mission statement.

The chairman failed to provide us with the commodity when we needed it, and therefore his corporation, if not himself, is ineffective. This is the sixth year in a row. The corporation’s credibility is nil. I suspect that likewise, their credit overseas is nil like the State’s credit with local providers of services and materials (like medicine?). It this is so, then the country is indeed bankrupt.

However, who would dare to admit it? A chairman?

Frank Galea

ZEBBUG