In the past months, weeks, days and hours the new Administration changed course on a wide range of issues. The aim is to shape and design things differently. You can make your own assessments and draw your own conclusions on this shift. Whether our political leaders have so far followedon the old political foot path or whether a new political era is in the offing remains to be seen. Hope this is not wishful thinking.
Lately the scene is set in the picturesque port in the southern part of the island. The controversy is about the proposal to anchor a large LNG tanker at the port of Marsaxlokk.
Fair enough our parliamentarians are entrusted with a vote of confidence to implement their Party promises with no “ifs” and no “buts”but great care of people’s concerns should be taken into account. Straight talkhas and will remain the best option. People deserve to be treated with dignity and respect from their Parliamentarians. Parliamentarians should stop playing the “know it all” role. I am certain many people must have had more than enough of the “bullying” approach politics. It seems that open dialogue with people has a different meaning nowadays.This attitude will only mellow once the general election gets closer.
Last Sunday the major political parties have called their troops for a Sunday morning open-air political event. One in Marsaxlokk and the other closeby in Birzebbuga. As good weather permitted it must have been a nice outing for many people attending duty calls from their respective Parties. A drive, a stroll, a bite and a refreshing drink in the picturesque ports of Marsaxlokkor Birzebbugamade the day a pleasant one.
The focus of these political events was the reverberating message of the two young promising leaders,who both earned their way from within their respective parties. Both have strong ties with their grass roots and both have served as European Union Members of Parliament. The cross fire to provoke enthusiasm amongst their followers was limited. What was important in their message was the intelligent way andperhaps more important the signalling of a political compromise on an issue which should not divide Malta. This may well be an opportunity to start doing things differently.Perhaps it is a time for political parties to send a strong signal to society and converge on national issues. Leaving partisan politics of the past for political analysts to write our national historywould not be a bad idea at all.
The national debate about an efficient power generation house has been on the national agenda for many years.Last Tuesday, our Parliamentarians debated the proposal pushed forward by Government which includes an LNG tanker at the port of Marsaxlokk. In my opinion our politicians are taking large if not huge risks for the sake of doing things their way. It was indeed music to hear some of our Parliamentarians declare that none within the House is an expert on the matter.During the debate some parroted and recycled the same arguments which have flooded the media during the past months. Although credit should be given to Parliamentarians from both sides of the House for making valid contributionsreflecting people’s concern and tried to bring objectivity in the debate.As one would expect a new power station is a huge investment and experts’ assessments and evaluations should be to only guiding principle which should be pushed forward before a final decision is taken. Politicians should rely on experts’ findings and refrain from committing these islands to political promises which may have serious repercussions. Politicians are politically responsible for their promises but it should be experts who should be held accountable for projects of this magnitude. Politicians should assume responsibility for the project once they have the green light from appointed experts. Politicians should not assume a responsibility which goes far beyond their capabilities. Politicians’ duties are to ensure that personnel within their respective ministries execute efficiently approved projects withinthe agreed time-frames and budgets.
Power generation has been on the national agenda for many years. Not too long ago coal was a natural resource which fired our power station at Marsa.Since those troubled years power generation has improved in leaps and bounds. Total black-outs are now few and far between. Power generation and distribution improved substantially ensuring sufficient supply to an ever increasing demand which industries of all sorts and households require.
The decision to build a new power station at Delimara by the Nationalist Party created havoc on the island. The two major political parties crossed swords on an issue which could have led Malta to a total black-out if immediate action was not taken.ThenBWSC and heavy fuel oil came to our shores and again many unproductive hours of debate were spent on this project. Experts could have given peace of mind to many people.
Hopefully, away from the political fray and other promises,today we can read with some sense of relief and satisfaction that yesterday, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority has decided in favour of thecommunities particularly living in the south and one of the largest business activity hubs for Malta.
Hope I am not wishing for too much.
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