Where is the buck going exactly?

 

Thanks to a maverick member of parliament who upset the apple cart (and is ever not so humble about it) we are seeing so much activity. If only Franco Debono could stop behaving like a smug, puffed up peacock and stopped telling us how good he is, he would gain more kudos.

I wonder if he breeds those birds and is copying their posing. Yes, he has instigated much needed reforms and yes, he is right that we should not tolerate oligarchies and that is why many people have supported him. "The declarations made (by the PM last Sunday) would be meaningless if the issues of political responsibility, the oligarchy and constitutional reforms dealing with the distribution of power among institutions are not urgently tackled," he told timesofmalta.com

He is right and I like the way that, similar to a terrier, he will not let go until his goal is reached. I admire the way he has stood up to be counted, unlike many of his colleagues, and for that he deserves praise. But, he does not need to keep congratulating himself and behave like a child that is not getting the attention he deserves.

Besides, he should stay focused on the serious reforms and not get into his personal hobby and be seeking the derogation on finch trapping based on bird ringing and a capture breeding programme in conjunction with FKNK (Hunters & Trappers Association).

He did not need to shout it from the treetops that “it was thanks to me that the government and the PN had been brought to their senses”. He is then upset that he has enemies within his Party. His efforts have been widely publicised and recognised, his rubbing it in is not needed and does him no favours.

He must accept that he will have enemies, especially if he intends to keep playing the political game. If he keeps on and on with ‘Look, I am such a hero. Why isn’t everybody falling at my feet in admiration’ (my quote) he will continue to attract even more flak.

I have one question for Franco Debono where does he stand on his declaration that he “was prepared to work with anyone but Dr Gonzi”?

Despite two recent meetings with the PM, neither are giving anything away. It is acknowledged that credit is due to him that Government is suddenly listening to some of the decades old complaints. And the Prime Minister has belatedly realised that listening to the people was a good idea.

He is not the only one rowing hard to gain some ground.

Several ministers are burning the midnight oil. We are seeing reform proposals all over the place and finally we are told that something is to be done about the environment and neighbourhood noise.

But hold your horses, the new Minister, Mario de Marco launching the White Paper on Noise said it should “spark a debate” about the way forward on this important issue. The public is being invited to contribute to a two-month consultation process.

So we are talking about further debate not action. For Heavens sake, it had “dominated the feedback received during the National Environment Policy process,” he told us.  So why do we need more debate?

OK, so it’s a White Paper, which means it has got to get through parliament, after the two-month public consultation, which brings us to May.

Since the worst noise polluter in the summer months – the festa petards  “should be a separate discussion” because “although (they) could be a nuisance, they were part of a cultural tradition,” it means yet another summer of disturbed sleep and rude awakenings.

Now granted that fireworks are traditional and they are very pretty, most people, would want them to stay. But the enthusiasts must be told that the blitzkrieg, aka the petard bombardments have to stop.

They are barbaric rather than cultural. My point is that “cultural” denotes sophistication and one cannot uphold a primitive tradition at the cost of uncivilised behaviour.

Dr de Marco pointed out that the Paper made mention of fireworks regulations and “if people notice a breach of these regulations they would eventually be able to call the hotline.“

“Eventually”! Ah, the proposed 24/7 hotline, which, we are told, will receive and redirect complaints with the help of a tracking system, which will ensure accountability and enable callers to follow up their complaints. Sounds really good.

But who will the complaints be redirected to? The minister is proposing an end to the pass the buck syndrome. He said that neighbourhood noise legislation was fragmented, with various institutions responsible for different aspects, forcing individuals to go from one department to the other and resulting in a “lack of ownership” from the authorities responsible.

So a Noise Control Board is to be set up. The Boards function will be to streamline and update existing guidelines and regulations according to latest developments. Fine, yet another Board. But who will be employed to take the necessary action. Where is the buck going exactly?

What we need are a group of trained inspectors linked to the 24/7 hotline who will be able to take action on the spot.

A Board cannot stop an all night party in a residential neighbourhood, nor barking dogs in the middle of the night. It needs to have an effective enforcement arm.