The Speaker of the House of Representatives’ expressed hope of finally having Parliamentary sittings televised is not only welcome but, the way things are going, a must. Only thus can people have the opportunity to watch how their elected representatives go on about their business of enacting laws that have society at heart. Only thus can they know who is really delivering and who is merely showing up. Only thus can viewers obtain first-hand (as opposed to reported) knowledge of everything that goes on in the country’s highest institution.
Radio transmission of Parliamentary sittings, which already exists, is OK, but television brings with it the tell-tale images of both the government and Opposition benches. It also brings to the fore the body language that, as we all know, says so much of both sides. Take two particular cases which occurred during last week’s sittings and which confirmed that there are men of action inside that chamber who deserve to be watched, just as there are those who deserve to be seen masquerading as MPs with a mission when their eyes are really on the car park below.
Marsa power station to be shut down – at last
It would have been lovely for most people to have been able to see the announcement at the end of the EneMalta estimates debate, when Minister Konrad Mizzi revealed that the Marsa power-station will – finally – be shut down next year. This will pave the way for a complete regeneration of the area and, finally, a respite for the people of Marsa and its surroundings, for too long victims of Nationalist government procrastination and utter disregard for people’s health.
There is no longer any doubt that the EneMalta story has taken, albeit belatedly, a turn for the better. The Labour government’s immediate action to gradually but seriously dismantle the mountain of debt that the corporation was irresponsibly left to accumulate, has already started to bear fruit. Massive Chinese investment took a substantial chunk off that mountain almost overnight, the credit rating agencies have started to believe in the corporation’s comeback and the corruption of the past is being exposed and corrected with an efficiency that has characterised this government’s short life so far.
It is no surprise – and it would have been fun to watch on TV – that Opposition spokesmen have been trying to minimise this success. It is not easy for them to convince anyone that they were not been part of the mess to which the national energy sector was reduced just 15 months ago.
Proper public transport – at last
Another man of action is Minister Joe Mizzi. In Parliament last week he gave an impromptu lesson to his Opposition counterpart on how things should have been done when the previous government was planning to introduce a new public transport system. And would it not have been great to watch him explaining how things are being done NOW?
It seems that the appearance of public transport officials at different hours of the day on various bus routes was met with some apprehension on the part of the Opposition spokesman, when it was part of a much-needed collation of crucial information about routes, the results of which will be analysed for guidance to both the authorities and the new company that is to eventually assume responsibility for the new public transport system.
Minister Mizzi made it clear every precaution is being taken to ensure there is no repeat of the Arriva chaos that not only cost the country millions of taxpayers’ money, but also denied passengers – locals and tourists alike – the decent bus service they had previously enjoyed.
Indeed, give us that televised Parliament as soon as possible!