Long delayed and overdue port reforms are making the business sector lose patience. The subject has again been referred to, this time by the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.

“Once again, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise has to resort to public statements to voice its exasperation and concern at the current stalemate in the port-reform process which should have been concluded almost three months ago,” said chamber president Victor A. Galea following a chamber council meeting on Thursday evening.

The meeting discussed the “untenable” situation at the ports, the chamber said.

Mr Galea said the chamber has been working hard behind the scenes, to lobby for an effective port reform based on the fundamental principle that fees needed to reflect today’s competitive realities and actual services rendered.

“We have always acknowledged the fact that the path was far from straightforward but, unfortunately, no progress was reported on the matter. In the meantime, obsolete work practices are still the order of the day and the local business community is still facing high charges for services which are either not being rendered effectively or, worse, non-existent,” added the chamber president.

He reiterated that the chamber had always stated that port reform was not a simple exercise and that it revolved round challenging practices which have been “fossilised” for decades. Irrespective of the difficulties, the conclusion to this process could not be delayed any longer, as the patience of the business community was running out.

Mr Galea insisted that “time and time again, the chamber as well as other kindred organisations have denounced the terrible situation at the ports. We have consistently said that the high costs at the ports adversely affect Malta’s competitiveness. As entrepreneurs, we cannot afford to keep financing these inadequacies and bad work practices.”

He concluded by saying that Malta needed a port system which was efficient and effective, and ultimately delivering lower costs – it was with this aim in mind that common sense and level-headedness is expected from all parties involved.