One question that many Labour activists and supporters often ask is how can we manage to turn the tide once it is likely that we shall inherit one big financial mess in the running of our state finances.

On more than one occasion Joseph Muscat replied that the same way that we managed to find the right resolve and determination as we did in the 70s, when the state hardly had enough money to meet its public finances obligations and public sector salary bills, the PL will next time round equally rise to the occasion.

Conveniently the PN media gave such a reassuring statement a twist that all that Muscat was offering was a recycled formula that goes back some 40 years in time.

Ironically American President Barack Obama recently resorted to the same approach when he delivered his State of the Union address.

Calling on the country’s Sputnik Moment, he did not just settle for a rehash of the past. On the contrary he spoke about creating a new world beating economy built on innovation and new industries. In fact the large part of his address focused on the economy rather than on foreign affairs or national security concerns.

Given his weakened congressional and senatorial strength he had no option other than to pitch for an upbeat tone wherein he sought bipartisan cooperation.

Repeatedly he spoke of the need for governing to be a shared responsibility between parties. Whether the Republicans choose to play ball still has to be seen by the time I am penning this article, but on the other hand if they come across as spoilers they will show that their primary interest is not the national interest but solely that of being obstructionist.

The theme of Obama’s address did not only focus on the need to ‘win the future’ but also on the importance of promoting his ability and self-confidence in winning re-election next year. Something I definitely do not rule out at all.

It was no mean feat for Obama to manage to strike a balance between being reasonable in a sort of middle of the road manner while also coming across anew as being progressive enough to carry out some important changes.

Whenever Obama spoke of innovation, education and infrastructure he spoke of them in terms of the future not the past.

His recent turnaround in national polls must have given him an added boost. Particularly since his rebound was reported to have been even quicker than that of Clinton and Reagan in spite of the economy being less resilient at the moment than in their times.

I am sure that if economic recovery will materialise it will definitely help him on the road ahead.

He might not have achieved all of his ambitions and purposes but he has definitely stabilised the economy.

I simply love this quote of his: “Though at times it may seem uncertain, it is a future that is ours to decide, ours to define and ours to win. I know we will.”

The man’s eyes are definitely set already on extending his stay in the White House. Apart from helping the economy bounce back.

A toned down breach of human rights

One simply has to hand it to the PN friendly media for having played down the recent court ruling that Minister Pullicino was found to be in breach of the human rights of the residents of Marsascala over the Sant’Antin recycling plant project.

Regardless of the fact that the Constitutional Court has ordered the appeal against the Marsaskala recycling plant to be heard again, ruling the planning appeals board that decided the case six years ago as being neither independent nor impartial, the operative part of Mr Justice Gino Camilleri’s decision was that the fundamental rights of the Marsascala local council were breached because the planning appeals board was appointed by the then Environment Minister, who was also responsible for pushing forward the controversial project. As a result, the board’s independence and impartiality were compromised in breach of the applicant’s human rights.

The judge rejected the minister’s counter-claim and argued that the minister had no power at law to interfere with decisions taken by the appeals board. He also ruled that the appointment and composition of the board was deemed to be in breach of the residents’ fundamental human right to have their case determined independently.

The judge’s stand vindicated the stand taken by Marsascala residents over the years.

231 private security firm workers contracted by WasteServ

In PQ 22378 the Resources Minister confirmed the lead I was given recently, that some 231 private security firm employees were working for the government agency WasteServ on a full-time contract basis.

Their work is not solely linked to security work but also as follows: 10 executive officials, 27 clerks, 32 drivers, 7 supervisors, 16 operatives, 122 waste sorters, 5 technical officers and 12 weighbridge operators.

The Minister informed the House that he was compelled to take such action due to the ‘need’ for flexibility in the engagement of the persons concerned. Whether government recruiting regulations were observed or not still needs to be ascertained.

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Leo Brincat is the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Sustainable Development & Climate Change