As the economy maintains its momentum, it is natural that public attention focuses more on matters that usually are relegated to second or third priority, such as environmental issues. However the case could be that the same economic momentum is making so-called secondary priorities more acute.

For instance, it seems that cleaning services on the island are finding it difficult to cope adequately with the spread of waste in open spaces. It has grown in volume; so too indeed has indiscipline among our citizens, while the resources available to clean up sites have not kept pace.

In like manner: consider the pollution of the seas caused by the cages where tuna is fattened. Here too, the volume of throughput has increased, and so have abuses.

One could argue that an economy which is moving forward at a good clip, should have have at its disposal more resources with which to deal with growing problems like that of environmental pollution. This is certainly true; still there is always a lag between the emergence of new or  “greater” problems, and a recognition that to cover them well, one needs to mobilise more resources.

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Canaries

Tourism in the Canary islands has been on the increase for the last six years. Thirty per cent of the economy depends on the sector.

This year, they are expecting to welcome over 14 million toruists, seven times the local population. Like Malta or better, the islands enjoy a beautiful climate that hardly varies over the months, as well as clement seas.

According to El Pais newspaper, the Canaries are seeking to avoid the vicious circle they could fall into if they continue to rely on the same model to attract tourists.If somehow, the fashion changes for where to travel and how, they could be left hanging. Also, they are worrying about the possible effects of Brexit, since many of their arrivals are from the UK.

An effort is being made presently to investigate whether the islands could adopt other models of change and development in order to renew their tourism product. In part, this exercise is also intended to see how a greater portion of the tourism value added in the Canary islands could be retained there, rather than accruing to foreign enterprises.

Maybe we should take an interestin what is happeningin the Canaries along these lines.There might be some lessons for us in what they are proposing.

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Post Brexit

According to British press reports, the UK government is finding difficulties as it tries to detail its negotiating position for the country's exit from the EU. They are also practical problems: the UK needs officials able to conduct discussions on technicalities with Brussels.

This is understandable. Right from the start I failed to appreciate the rush with which certain European spokespersons wanted to launch Brexit negotiations. They seemed driven by pique. As if such matters should be dealt with in a fit of pique.

For instance on foreign trade issues, where the EU has assumed wide ranging powers, the UK had over the years greatly reduced the number of administrators in this field, since “everything” was being done by the European Commission.

It is hardly possible to rebuild overnight a national team of officials prepared to handle such matters.