The Labour Party has made amply clear its belief in the consultation process at all levels. Although it is expected of the government to govern, in today’s complex day and age to refuse to consult is tantamount to a certain abdication of responsibilities. In all respects this has become a necessity which, with respect, the Nationalist Party seems to have lost sight of. Although the PN has repeatedly lambasted the Labour Party for changes in policy by referring to them as U-turns, this is unfair. It is truly high time that when a change in policy is carried out by the PN, this too is referred to as a U-turn. There have been a number of such U-turns over the past years, and the past few days has seen two more U-turns.

I personally do not really ascribe much to the term U-turn. A change in policy when properly reasoned out and carried out may, after all, be a change in the right direction. However, until such time as a better turn of phrase is found, let us refer to some recent U-turns, just to put the picture straight!

Just imagine a few months ago you confirm with the government that investment is on the cards in the crafts village in Ta’ Qali. You invest your time, money and expertise in planning your own relative expenses. One fine day you pick up the paper and lo and behold the goalposts have changed! The crafts village will now be sited in the dockyard! This is all unplanned. The government in its pre-election manifesto made it clear that it would invest in the crafts village in Ta’ Qali. Dock 1 was mentioned in a completely different context. Yet again we have seen the government change its policies – u-turn!

That the government is planning a better waste management strategy is good. That the government intends to open two new waste recycling plants is also good. It is wrong however to simply indicate two new sites without consultation. This is unfair on the population about to be affected with the new sites.

Here too it is also worth our while remembering that the Labour Party has repeated ad nauseam that Malta required more than one waste recycling plant. The government has repeatedly stated that this was an incorrect appraisal of what was required in Malta. They knew best! Now – U-turn! We need two other sites after all. What is also morally reprehensible was the attitude taken during the relative press conference. The government brought forward the idea that this was in keeping with current trends and necessities. The needs have been felt for some time but the government chose not to act.

Again, I wish to make clear the point that the Labour Party is not criticising the necessity of the new plants. What is to be criticised is the manner in which the government with the usual pomp and circumstance indicated where the plants are to be sited and that no consultation was apparently carried out.

The Labour Party has already shown it will do things differently. The changes that were brought about in our statute last year were the result of months of consultation both public and private. When it comes to our country’s affairs the Labour Party will be in the frontline of consultation.

For future reference I feel it necessary to identify the definition given (online of course) for what the government should have done with regard to both the crafts villages and recycling plants:

“Public consultation, is a regulatory process by which the public’s input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparency and public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies. It usually involves notification (to publicise the matter to be consulted on), consultation (a two-way flow of information and opinion exchange) as well as participation (involving interest groups in the drafting of policy or legislation.”

The Labour Party will consult. This is not an empty promise. It is our way of doing things. It is the better way.

Simon Micallef Stafrace

Valletta