A pedestrian walking in a narrow road in Birzebbuga who had the fright of his life from an over speeding motorist has urged, in another English language daily, that a points reduction system for car licences be considered for Malta, without taking into consideration that our roads are still by and large worse than those in Tunisia.
If a points system is to be implemented, why not begin with it in parliament by holding the government of the day accountable that if it does not honour its promises, it would start losing one deputy from its side per year either till it has implemented what it said it would, or until there is need for a fresh election as the government of the day will have lost its majority?
I shall not repeat the criticism meted out against the white elephant city gate project when so many other facets of our infrastructure should have been given priority, or the deficit addressed in good time.
I will merely mention just one example (from which I do not stand to benefit). I have in mind the micro-credit scheme. Bangladesh has implemented this without waiting for any European Bank for Development and Reconstruction. Maltese, including Gozitans hoping to implement some project have seemingly a long wait ahead as the call for interest by the EBRD will only be issued in the middle of this month when it was announced in the Budget speech of 2009!
Interestingly, in Portugal a deluxe resort has applied to benefit from such a scheme and obtained close to €200,000 to better its golf facilities, villas with pools etc. Rather than stopping hardworking entrepreneurs on this island from investing more in tourist facilities, as this might uproot some wild thyme or what have you, we should long ago have given them the required support. Maybe they too would have had the good fortune of tapping some EU funds to be spent to aid the much tried regional economy, increase jobs and have extra capacity when the gods of plenty occasionally bless them with full bookings of high paying conference and film guests!
G. Bonett
Marsalforn