The total power blackout we had last Tuesday may be symptomatic of a government that is in the dark, a government that has lost its grasp on the needs of the nation, a government that needs to wake up to the calls for a better administration and a greater sensitivity to the people’s requirements.

It is not only a question of electricity, although it must be said that Malta cannot afford to lose one working day in the way it did.

We all remember the time when the government was fighting its battle on public holidays falling on a weekend. It had then been said that each working day lost cost the country millions of euros, and the government had had it its way when it ruled that holidays falling on a weekend should no longer be replaced with extra vacation leave.

What happened on Tuesday meant that companies that had no back-up generators lost a full day’s work, with some sending their employees home when it was realised that it would have taken Enemalta Corporation quite long to restore power.

The power blackout is a perfect example to use for a government that seems in disarray, and is too cut off from the people to know what is going on in each and every home. The people have answered with their vote – the results of the European Parliament and local councils’ election are a clear indication that the people are not happy with the prevailing situation.

The government, quite frankly, is in the dark as to what the people want or aspire to achieve. Today, many are experiencing difficulties in making ends meet, as the salaries they earn are not enough to cover all the expenses that they have.

Ironically, their largest concern is the water and electricity bills they are expected to pay. Many have had to cut down on other needs just to be able to send a cheque to Enemalta; others are postponing their payment in the hope that they will be able to pay up before the corporation decides to cut their supply.

But the government is not only faltering in this aspect. There are other areas where it has failed to keep its promises and, although a government should be judged over five years, this first year has not been a good one for Gonzi’s team.

The government can blame the international situation and the recession as being the reasons behind the economic slump. But the Mepa reform has nothing to do with the recession, and the country is still waiting for the Prime Minister to come up with the changes that will revamp this entity and make it more accountable.

The waiting lists at Mater Dei Hospital have nothing to do with the price of oil, and yet there are hundreds of people who are kept waiting for years before their needs are seen to. The rent reform is another promise that has not been fulfilled, while changes to the public transport system are still in the making – and could be revised following the way operators reacted to plans announced.

The only reform that has seen the light of day was the one concerning local councils; yet, even here, the amendments left much to be desired as local councils are no more accountable than they were in the past.

Another irony was that the government announced the launch of the energy-saving bulb scheme a day after the power cut. It would do well to make use of some of the bulbs to see what it is doing.