The current frenzy of electricity cable laying across Malta is a glaring reminder of what happens when long-term infrastructure planning is neglected. The sudden rush of works in densely populated urban areas is causing severe disruption to people's lives and pushing our road network to the brink. While it is true that these upgrades are necessary to modernise our electricity grid, the lack of foresight and coordination behind their rollout is both frustrating and unacceptable.

It is no secret that the Labour government, now into its third term, did little to address the weaknesses in the electricity distribution network during its first two legislatures. Instead of investing gradually and systematically over the years, it has waited until the situation became urgent - perhaps even critical - before taking action after the power crisis we had two years ago. The result? A nation plunged into a haphazard blitz of trench-digging and closed roads, all at once and all over the place.

Nowhere is this more visible than in the past weeks. Roadworks for cable laying were carried out in St Julian's, Sliema, San Gwann, and Swatar - all interconnected localities. This created a logistical nightmare for commuters and residents alike. It was nearly impossible to get from one place to another without being stuck in gridlock. Accessing homes, businesses, and even emergency services became a daunting task.

Such a situation had happened in other areas too, such as Santa Venera, Ħamrun, and Birkirkara. Coupled with other road works taking place, not linked to energy but to the so-called upgrading of the road network, such as Msida Creek or the multiple construction projects taking place in Sliema and St Julian's, it has taken the traffic system in Malta to a deeper predicament than it already was. 

This kind of blanket disruption could have been avoided with better planning. There was no need for all this work to be concentrated in adjacent areas at the same time. With proper scheduling, the Energy Ministry and Enemalta could have staggered the work. The decision to barrel ahead with projects in close proximity suggests either a lack of coordination or a desperate attempt to catch up on years of neglect - perhaps both.

Yes, it must be said that this work is necessary. As energy demands grow, a robust and modern distribution network is vital to avoid blackouts and overheating substations. No one disputes that investment in infrastructure is needed. But the urgency now felt by the authorities is the direct result of their own inertia. Had they taken action during the past decade, we wouldn't be facing this level of disruption all at once.

In this sense, we must be fair with the current Energy Minister, Miriam Dalli, who is trying to make up for what her predecessors failed to do. When Labour was elected to government in 2013, we first had Konrad Mizzi responsible for the sector, and we all know where his mind was. Then we had Joe Mizzi and Michael Farrugia succeeding him and matters did not improve.

Having said this, we must point out that there seems to be panic in the Energy Ministry and Enemalta to complete cable laying projects before the summer heat hits. And so people have a right to ask: why wasn't this done better? Why wasn't it spread out over a longer period, with a smarter, phased plan? And most importantly, will the short-term pain we are being asked to endure really lead to a long-term gain?

Let this be a lesson in how not to manage national projects. The price of delay is always paid by the public.