I have yet to see the much-debated Dear Dom documentary, but it has certainly given his daughter Yana a convenient platform from which to push for a seat in the next parliament.
It is great to see a strong woman putting herself forward on the Malta political scene, but I do have reservations. Basically, it is because of her previous lack of involvement in Maltese politics, even in its wider sense, and the niggling feeling that her participation now is due to the strong possibility of Labour winning the next election.
It must be somewhat galling for the Labour women, who have been struggling through thick and thin, to see someone suddenly pop up stealing the limelight thanks to her dad.
The female stalwarts in the LP have long been pushing that the working class and pensioners be properly looked after. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca has had more than a little to say on social services; Helena Dalli has tackled women’s rights, and Renee Laviera has battled on the domestic violence front.
As much as it is welcomed that the PL now has another female fighter, Yana is not presenting any progressive ideas. Besides, she was not properly prepared for the Sunday Times interview with Christian Peregin either.
Her response – to what I thought was the best question, namely that she had not reacted when human rights were being breached here in Malta by her father’s government, while professing her stand on human rights abroad in the eighties – “I would need more facts on that,” was dismal.
How can she put herself forward for election and be so ill informed on the island’s political history.
Fuel debate
Are the constant increases in fuel prices really beyond the country’s control? Or are they down to government, parastatal and private enterprises inefficiencies? I pondered while preparing for a fuel debate on Thursday evening on RTK.
The regular discussion programme, hosted by Tonio Portughese, presented a wide analysis on the subject, since fellow panellists included management and finance consultant Stephen Muscat, UHM’s Jesmond Bonello and Manuel Micallef, former deputy general secretary of the GWU and another media commentator.
Looking for answers to my questions, I perused last October’s Moody’s report when Malta was downgraded from A1 to A2.
“The country fares badly also in transparency of government policymaking (56); “favouritism in decisions of government officials” (56) and lacks a culture of customer orientation (69).”
All three points are relevant to the fuel debate. Maybe lack of transparency is part of the problem on why consumers are so incensed by the constant price rises. Favouritism, when it comes to appointing administrators and regulators, also has a bearing on efficiency. Maybe, the best people for the job are not being appointed.
The Consumer Association took Malta Resources Authority to task, earlier in the week, for setting maximum prices based on the full cost recovery, burdening customers with the costs of industry inefficiencies.
“Malta’s performance starts getting really disappointing when it comes to business sophistication (42) and innovation (51). The efficacy of corporate boards (74) leaves much to be desired,” according to Moody’s. Besides, the quality of (our) electricity supply (90) was also criticised.
But how are the latest fuel rises affecting an already financially constrained public? Basically, it undermines its purchasing power and downgrades its standard of living. Customer protection is sadly lacking, and as to competitive prices on fuel, they are non-existent. One pays the same price for one’s fuel wherever it is purchased.
With regard to unions and employers, it is a no win situation, because both employees and their bosses are feeling the pinch. Industrial competitiveness is affected and any rises in wages would just be passed on to the already burdened consumer, which of course includes the employees.
Enough is enough
The people of St Julian’s have had enough and have taken to the streets and are also showing their disapproval by hanging banners from their balconies. They are objecting to the downgrading of their quality of life through air and noise pollution, traffic congestion, parking problems and the destruction of urban conservation areas.
As voiced by many online, it is not just St Julian’s that is being swamped by cranes, lorries and the resulting high-rise developments. Although I do not live in St Julian’s, I have been following and supporting the Save St Julian’s page on Facebook, because I think that this kind of protest can act as a catalyst and set an example to all other towns and villages that are being overrun by over-development.
In my own backyard, or I should say front yard, the view of the entrance to Marsamxetto harbour and Sliema Creek gets smaller day by day and I live in dread of the day the view of my beloved Valletta is also obliterated. I live in Sliema’s highest point and can see that planners in the past ensured that the highest buildings were at the back.
Now the terracing is reversed, which is not only visually non-aesthetic but stops air flow from the sea reaching Sliema’s back streets.
Mepa, and more importantly the government and the Opposition, both preparing for the next election, should be taking serious note of the public disgruntlement on the lack of proper town planning, disregard for our precious green areas and inadequate impact assessments.
Article published in the Malta Independent on Sunday on 15 April 2012
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