This week's national blackout left some in the dark for as long as 18 hours and more (in areas like Haz-Zebbug, Siggiewi, Hal-Luqa and Hal-Qormi). But all of us have now been left in the dark for days concerning what really caused the explosion that led to the blackout in the first place.

Surely light will be shed on the matter in the coming days, particularly because yet another investigation is underway.

It all had to happen, of course, during the week of the feast of Santa Maria, when more parishes than you can name in a single breath are celebrating with gusto. Or rather, when they would rather celebrate with gusto – if only the power stayed on.

It had to happen during the week when tourism is at its peak.

Minister Konrad Mizzi usually does not miss an opportunity to meet the media and tell them how fantastic and swimmingly things are going. This time he has been nowhere to be seen.

His ministry is not working swimmingly – it just seems lost at sea, not waving but drowning. His assurance that things are fantastic seem to be a fantasy. Until we get that report.

The new Enemalta Chairman has admitted that the blackout was not caused by an overload because the national grid could take much more than what was being used at the time. So the infrastructure left by the previous government was not the cause of the blackout. The buck has to stop with Minister Konrad Mizzi this time. Perhaps that is why he opted not to address the media.

Robin Williams

Mork and Mindy, Popeye, Mrs Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning Vietnam and Patch Adams all have one common factor: the incredible talent of actor Robin Williams. An actor who can put a smile on people’s faces is talented but one who can bring tears of laughter to the eyes of his audience is outstanding – and Robin Willliams was an outstanding actor.

On hearing the sad news of his death, I looked up selections of some of his most memorable performances and could not help noticing the sadness in his eyes. There was a fragility in Robin Williams reminiscent of the true clown. The deep sad eyes, not hidden underneath layers of make-up, were a silent scream and constant reminder of his deeper vulnerability.

A few years back, the World Health Organisation warned that mental health should be given much more attention by policy makers.  Deep depression, anxiety and stress are common in many men and women, young and old. Robin Williams was always ready to speak frankly and publicly about his difficulties, especially with his loneliness and consequent addictions.

Just as he inspired us in life, hopefully he will continue to prod all of us to put in an extra effort to give more attention to mental health issues and collectively fight the stigma that comes with mental illness, which has been the major stumbling block that prevents so many to seek help.

Leading by example

Minister Owen Bonnici has publicly apologised for the cars from his Ministry that have been left parked at the top of Merchants Street. That’s good but would it not have been much better had this pedestrian area remained car-less? What is the use of apologising for something you don’t intend to fix and which you intend to keep doing?

Which obviously reminds me of the St Luke’s helipad incident. We were told an investigation is underway. If an investigation is underway, why was it that easy for a journalist to park his car and take a photo two days after the first incident?

And, worse still, if Minister Bonnici, the Minister for Justice and Culture, can apologise and yet have his underlings continue to break the law, how can we expect Joe Citizen to do any better?