Prime Minister Robert Abela’s suggestion for schools to remain open during the Carnival “holidays” and for the “lost” holidays to be recouped in the summer or in some other manner, was interesting and constructive.
As it happens, there is general agreement at this time that it would be better till the pandemic has abated, for people to keep back from celebrations. So, allowing schools to continue in service and not shut down for Carnival holidays is a proposal that makes sense. Especially this is the case after the furore triggered by allegations that in private villas, the rules about social distancing that should be maintained as well as other precautions were flouted during the Christmas break.
It’s a pity that (if I understood correctly) the teachers’ unions immediately shot the idea down. Either we stand united to ensure that our society is best arrayed to contain the tough conditions generated by the pandemic, or we continue to checkmate each other out, sector by sector. Not so long ago, PM Abela was being criticised for not taking seriously enough the challenges set by the pandemic.
Once he demonstrated that this was not true and came out even now with a concrete proposal, the put down was immediate. To be clear, the remit of a trade union is not that of always saying nay to everything.
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WINNERS AND LOSERS...
All too often, economic discussion focusses excessively on competition issues – whether Malta or some other country has remained competitive in market terms... or what needs to be done to remain in competitive mode and “win” over competitors...
The free market ideology, by which we all compete with each other and the winner takes all... has infiltrated mentalities not just for economic operators but also for those active in other areas of activity, from sport to culture to... so I would imagine... religious practice.
A claim that arises – one which perhaps is not being given enough attention – proceeds as follows: Does whoever loses in this never-ending competition deserve to be wiped out and discarded? Or is competition... by discarding the “losers”... making us lose as well the valid contributions they, the “losers”, could have made to our economy, society and the rest?
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BOOK FAIR
Is it true that this year’s book fair, if it goes forward once the Covid-19 restrictions have hopefully come to an end, would have to share the Mediterranean Conference facility in Valletta with the Circus “of the Sun”?
If this is what’s going to happen, the Book Council chairman would be quite right to unleash his brand of fireworks. For it is obvious that two events on the same days in this venue would create a total confusion in the projection and impact of the Book Fair. That would be of minimal concern to the Circus operators. They would – thank you very much – have spent some time in Malta, which they would consider as a tiny market from their perspective, and then have left for somewhere else.
Another issue to consider of course would be the disruption in traffic caused by two activities being held simultaneously. After all, a big dilemma for the Mediterranean Centre always has been the insufficient space for parking available close to where it is situated (in Valletta).
In the end and as I see it, this story highlights the point that the Book Fair needs to depart from a location where traffic problems are so acute and should migrate to a facility where parking space is available.