I refer to the editorial Something to hide (TMID, 19 September).

Allow me to concur with your position that the shipyards' workers and their families have a right to be kept informed about the privatisation process. But it is of greater importance, for workers themselves, and for the rest of the country, that this privatisation process is successful. There are many elements that contribute to such success, and one of them is the ability to attract a number of good quality offers for this enterprise.

The Privatisation Unit, which has expertly and successfully concluded a number of similar processes over the last few years, has last Monday recommended to me that stating the number of expressions of interests could deter the actual number of bids that would eventually be presented. This is definitely against the interest of the entity and the workers themselves.

Such speculation can only hurt the possibilities of success.

Tonio Fenech

Finance, the Economy and Investment Minister