From Dr J. Muscat

Your leader “Taking the Oil Bull by the Horns” of 5 October is a classic example of looking at today’s problems and substantially ignoring why we are in the mess we are in now. The present situation is the result of decades of short-termism, political convenience and sheer incompetence. You state that the real problem is electricity. I disagree. It lies with water as much as it lies with electricity; in the case of Malta, they are inseparable Siamese twins.

The article laments that for years, we have been paying for water at less than cost. Unfortunately, it fails to emphasise the failure of government to effectively control the extraction of water from the aquifer and, for long years, to cut down on water leakages. Had we not had both, the subsidy would have been very much less.

You concede the possible validity of criticism of government and the delay in taking strategic decisions on wind and solar energy and linkage with the European grid. Unfortunately, not only has there been an unpardonable delay but the apparently preferred option for wind energy is not the best possible, while the envisioned linkage to the European grid is with a country which itself has to import electricity from its neighbour in order to cope.

The article seems to be targeted to making customers pay fully for what they consume so that Enemalta might become a candidate for privatisation. You also express regret that in 1998 the PN opted to act with a social conscience. The presence of such a conscience is what distinguishes continental Conservatives from Anglo-Saxon ones. In the spirit of the latter, the writer accepts that some will have to opt for candles in the future. Who will these be? And who will carry on enjoying what will become a luxury? Governments without a social conscience are no better than impersonal accounting firms.

We know what the results of certain privatisations have been in countries much larger than ours. Malta’s size precludes competition and therefore privatisation is not an option for public utilities such as water and electricity. Given this, a State monopoly that is efficiently run and 100 per cent accountable, is always better than a private one.

Josie Muscat

Leader

Azzjoni Nazzjonali