For a long while, we all have been saying how necessary it is for Libya to again find peace once all the factions that make it up, agree on a fair and just arrangement. This wish does not seem to have progressed beyond words.

Disagreements persisted despite efforts to resolve issues. Some people claim that things might still get worse before they can improve. This would be a tragedy for the Libyan people who need to go back to a “normal” life. Equally, it would be a tragedy for the peoples living in Libya’s neighbourhood: with Libya still in turmoil, they will face mounting insecurity.

Lack of internal agreement is boosting the terrorist threat coming from Libya. It is also rendering more difficult the effort of reconciliation that must be carried out when and if a final agreement is reached.

For those who care about Libya and its future, at present there is apparently still no reply possible to the question: how can they be of effective help to the Libyan people in their struggle to achieve unity again, in peace?   

***

Inflation/deflation

Once more, let me ask: why is it that when in Europe, inflationary tendencies prevail, in Malta prices trend down – while when prices are tightening in Europe, in Malta they rise?

The phenomenon is being repeated now as Europe debates the perils of deflation. The latter is still holding, powered by the collapsing oil price, if only in part.

Indeed, one could perhaps explain why the opposite tendency has emerged in Malta because of the fact that the internal price of fuel is not reflecting clearly price declines in international oil markets. I am not convinced that by itself, this explains everything.

We might need to give a closer look at the import and export flows between Malta and the rest of the world.

While the performance of our services exports remains strong, that of manufactured products is flagging. At present, even as a number of European economies stagnate, they still have succeeded in recording export growth in products and services.

What link could there be between this outcome and that on the prices front? 

***

Church contrasts

The older I get, the more I confirm the feeling that as their first priority, the official leaders of the Maltese Catholic Church are really out to reinforce their social power and prestige.

Let’s refer to current events, not old hat arguments, like those about divorce.

Regarding the freezing of embryos under IVF procedures, Church leaders have mobilised one and all to say no, no. Some of the arguments they put forward in favour of “life” remind you of disputes developed in the Middle Ages, about how many angels could be made to dance safely on the head of a pin.

Then, controversy arises about the proposed implementation by the government of a 1969 law about employment for disabled persons. Rightly or wrongly, the government intends to give support to such persons by providing them with work opportunities for a better life.

Practically all the archbishop could say about this was that he backed employers, who were less than happy with the initiative. Can you read that?