Free public transport

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is right when he emphasises the need to have free public transport. Public transport is much better today than when we were subject to the Arriva fiasco piloted by Austin Gatt and his sidekick Manwel Delia.

In the past, government had introduced free public transport which it made available to a limited number of categories, notably young people and pensioners. The number of people using of public transport has increased significantly from 39.9 million in 2015 to 53.4 million during 2018: a staggering increase of 33.8 per cent in four years.

The numbers are significant and hats off to Malta Public Transport. These numbers signify that we can have hundreds, possibly thousands, of cars off our roads thanks to these millions of commuters who have opted to use public transport. This is a basic fact that must feed the implementation of a Transport Policy.

The Transport Master Plan 2025, which runs for a ten-year period that began in 2016, identified the basic problem of Maltese Transport policy: we think in the short term. As a result, positive policy initiatives are not as effective as intended because they seek to resolve the problem being considered without considering its long-term impact. Four years is the maximum span of our vision, opines the Transport Master Plan 2025.

Consider, for example, the Prime Minister’s statement in favour of free public transport for everyone. How does this statement fit in with large-scale road infrastructure projects such as the Central Link project?

In my view, the two are contradictory. The Prime Minister’s statement signifies that more of us will be encouraged to take the plunge in favour of public transport, occasionally or on a regular basis. As a result, there is great potential for a further reduction in the number of cars on our roads. So what, may I ask, what is the purpose of the Central Link project in view of this laudable initiative? Is this not a textbook case of one branch of government not being aware of what is going on elsewhere, within government?

We are aware, courtesy of the Transport Master Plan 2025, that 50 per cent of journeys by private cars are of a short duration: less than 15 minutes. These would be short distances either within the same area or between neighbouring areas. Imagine transport policy effectively targeting these journeys through, for example, well-planned regional public transport, or frequent circular bus routes in the large localities. Isn’t the prize of being able to reduce traffic by a staggering 50 per cent worth the effort? We do not need fly-overs and massive investment in road infrastructure to achieve this target. Just some common sense and the ability to plan long-term is all that is needed. The alternative will further increase traffic, and, consequently, congestion on our roads.

The long-term aim of Maltese transport policy is spelled out in the Transport Master Plan 2025: it is a reduction in the number of cars from our roads. This will increase mobility through the use of sustainable alternatives such as public transport, cycling, walking and even sea transport between places in our harbour areas.

We may remember that a study carried out by the University of Malta in 2015 indicated that, on average, we spend 52 hours a year stuck in traffic. Congestion can be tackled without resorting to meddling with our road infrastructure.

Transport Minister Ian Borg needs to sort out his priorities as soon as possible. We are still awaiting his commitment to his own government’s Transport Master Plan!

published in The Malta Independent on Sunday : 27 January 2019

Il-basla li daħal fiha David Casa

L-istorja dal-għodu fil-Malta Today dwar il-Membru Parlamentari Ewropew David Casa u d-droga kokaina hi waħda gravi. Ma nafx jekk hiex minna jew le. Biż-żmien insiru nafu iktar dwar jekk hiex storja ivvintata inkella jekk hiex storja reali. Ovvjament, din l-istorja, barra milli hi ezerċizzju ta’ tpattija għal tkeċċija mix-xogħol hi storja immirata lejn il-kredibilitá ta’ David Casa u dan fir-rigward tal-posizzjoni iebsa li qed jieħu fil-Parlament Ewropew dwar diversi materji.

Jekk dak li qed jintqal hu minnu David Casa għandu bżonn l-għajnuna biex jindirizza d-dipendenza fuq id-droga. Jekk min-naħa l-oħra mhux minnu, l-problema xorta hi waħda kbira.

Qed jingħad li dak li kien assistant ta’ David Casa u oriġina din l-istorja tkeċċa mix-xogħol tiegħu (bħala assistant ta’ David Casa) għax kien qed ikun repetutament fis-sakra fuq ix-xogħol minħabba problemi kbar li kien qed jiffaċċa, fosthom kont ta’ mitt elf ewro ta’ arretrati ta’ taxxa fuq id-dħul. Anke dan għandu bżonn għajnuna kbira u mhux min jinqeda bih f’mumenti ta’ dgħjufija, irrispettivament minn jekk l-istorja hiex minna jew le! Dejjem sakemm ma sabx lil min ħallaslu jew ħafirlu l-kont tat-taxxa, kollu jew parti minnu!

Qed jissemmew diversi problemi inkluż li dan l-ex-assistent ta’ David Casa kien tkeċċa mis- segretarjat privat ta’ Austin Gatt fl-2002 meta l-Pulizja kien tellgħuh il-Qorti dwar negozju ta’ ċekkijiet f’munita barranija. Akkuża li, għandu jingħad, kien liberat minna.

Meta timpjega lil min ikun fid-dell ta’ dan it-taħwid f’postijiet sensittivi, x’tistenna? Mhux li xi darba jew oħra jdaħħluk f’xi basla?

L-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli

Illum il-ġurnata, diversi jitkellmu dwar “sostenibilitá” u dwar “l-iżvilupp sostenibbli”. Sfortunatament, bosta drabi ma jkunux jafu x’inhuma jgħidu. Bħala riżultat jispiċċaw iwasslu messaġġi żbaljati.

Mela, ejja nibdew minn hawn. Meta nitkellmu dwar sostenibilitá inkunu qed nirriferu lejn dak li nagħmlu. Dan ikun sostenibbli kemm-il darba, d-deċiżjonijiet tagħna ma jippreġudikawx lil ġenerazzjonijiet futuri milli huma ukoll ikunu jistgħu jieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet tagħhom. Min-naħa l-oħra, l-iżvilupp sostenibbli hi t-triq li permezz tagħha nistgħu noqorbu u eventwalment naslu viċin li nkunu sostenibbli.

Fi ftit kliem is-sostenibilitá tħares fit-tul.

Dan kollu ma jikkonċernax biss l-ambjent. Imma jiġbor flimkien kemm il-politika ambjentali, kif ukoll dik ekonomika, il-politika soċjali kif ukoll il-politika kulturali. Ifisser li f’dak kollu li nagħmlu irridu nħarsu fit-tul u rridu nassiguraw li l-ħarsien ambjentali, l-iżvilupp ekonomiku u soċjali jimxu id f’id u b’rispett għall-kisbiet kulturali.

Dan iwassal għal numru ta’ konklużjonijiet loġiċi li jiffurmaw il-bażi tal-politika għall-iżvilupp sostenibbli. Kienet Gro Harlem Brundtland, soċjal demokratika Norveġiża li serviet kemm bħala Prim Ministru kif ukoll bħala Ministru għall-Ambjent ta’ pajjiżha li fasslet it-triq meta fl-1987 mexxiet il-ħidma tal-Kummissjoni Dinjija għall-Ambjent u l-Iżvilupp tal-Ġnus Magħquda u ippreżentat ir-rapport intitolat Our Common Future.

B’mod prattiku, l-iżvilupp sostenibbli għandu jwassal għal deċiżjonijiet konkreti li permezz tagħhom, l-iżvilupp li jseħħ ikun wieħed li jirrispetta lin-nies, lin-natura u l-kultura. Fi ftit kliem, il-profitti li tiġġenera l-ekonomija ikunu ibbażati fuq kriterji etiċi. Kien għal din ir-raġuni li sa mis-snin disgħin, meta l-iżvilupp sostenibbli issemma l-ewwel darba fil-liġijiet Maltin, dan kien responsabbiltá diretta tal-Prim Ministru. Ta’ l-inqas fuq il-karta.

Għax il-politika dwar l-iżvilupp sostenibbli tmiss l-oqsma kollha tal-ħajja pubblika u allura teħtieġ politiku ta’ esperjenza. Sfortunatament l-ebda wieħed mill-Prim Ministri li kellna s’issa ma mexxa hu f’dan il-qasam għax dejjem iddelegah lill-Ministru (jew lis-Segretarju Parlamentari) responsabbli għall-Ambjent. Dan hu żball għax il-Ministru responsabbli mill-Ambjent rari ħafna jkun f’posizzjoni li jagħti direzzjoni lill-Ministri l-oħra, li ngħiduha kif inhi, ftit li xejn ikollhom interess fl-iżvilupp sostenibbli.

B’eżempju forsi ninftehmu aħjar dwar kemm f’Malta, l-politika dwar l-iżvilupp sostenibbli hi biss logħob bil-kliem.

Inħarsu ftit lejn l-infrastruttura tat-toroq tagħna, inkluż it-trasport pubbliku. B’mod mill-iktar ċar din mhiex sostenibbli u ilha hekk għal ħafna żmien.

Marbuta mal-infrastruttura tat-toroq hemm il-mobilitá u l-kwalitá tal-arja. Dan flimkien mal-konġestjoni tat-traffiku, l-impatti fuq is-saħħa prinċipalment minħabba l- kwalitá fqira tal-arja kif ukoll l-impatti fuq l-ekonomija tal-ħin moħli fi traffiku ma jispiċċa qatt.

F’Mejju 2014 l-Istitut għat-Tibdil fil-Klima u l-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli tal-Universitá ta’ Malta kien ikkummissjonat mill-uffiċċju rappresentattiv tal-Unjoni Ewropeja f’Malta biex iħejji studju dwar l-impatti tat-traffiku f’Malta. Minn dan l-istudju, intitolat The External Costs of Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Use in Malta , jirriżulta li l-impatt tal-konġestjoni tat-traffiku hu stmat li hu ekwivalenti għal 1.7% tal-Prodott Gross Nazzjonali. Din l-istima tieħu konsiderazzjoni kemm tal-petrol/diesel kif ukoll tal-ħin li jinħela bħala riżultat tal-konġestjoni tat-traffiku. Hu stmat li f’Malta kull sewwieq, kull sena, jaħli medja ta’ 52 siegħa  wieqaf fit-traffiku.

L-istudju iżid jgħid li din l-istima tiżdied u tilħaq l-4% tal-Prodott Gross Nazzjonali jekk jittieħed ukoll konsiderazzjoni tal-inċidenti tat-traffiku, l-impatt tat-tniġġiz tal-arja, l-effett tat-tniġġiż mill-ħoss kif ukoll il-gassijiet serra. Għall-paragun, tajjeb li nirrealizzaw li t-tkabbir ekonomiku għas-sena 2017 huwa stmat li ser ikun ta’ 3.5% tal-Prodott Gross Nazzjonali.

Dan hu biss eżempju wieħed. Bħalu hemm bosta oħra.

Il-loġika tal-iżvilupp sostenibbli kellha inevitabilment twassal għal servizz effiċjenti ta’ transport pubbliku snin ilu bil-konsegwenza ta’ tnaqqis sostanzjali ta’ karozzi mit-toroq tagħna. Huwa dak li għandna nippretendu f’pajjiż żgħir bħal tagħna fejn kważi kullimkien qiegħed biss tefa’ ta’ ġebla ‘l-bogħod. Imma, kollox bil-maqlub!

Darba l-Kabinett kien approva Strateġija Nazzjonali għall-Iżvilupp Sostenibbli  ………….. imma sadanittant il-politika tat-trasport f’Malta għadha tinkoraġixxi iktar karozzi fit-toroq tagħna.

 ippubblikat fl-Illum : il-Ħadd 8 ta’ Jannar 2017

The logic of sustainable development

 

Political discourse is nowadays peppered with the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development” but often, unfortunately,  their use is out of context and thereby transmits the wrong message.

So, let us first be clear as to what the terms really mean. Being in a state of sustainability means that our actions, attitudes and behaviour are such that future generations are not precluded from taking their own decisions. On the other hand, sustainable development is the path to be followed to achieve sustainability.

This is not just a matter of environmental concern. It is an intertwining of environmental, economic, social and cultural policy. It means that our actions must take the long view and be compatible with the forces of nature, the economy, human development and a respect for culture.

All this leads to a number of logical conclusions which form the basis of the politics of sustainable development. This was first outlined by Gro Harlem Brundtland, a former Norwegian social democrat prime minister and minister for the environment in her seminal  1987 report Our Common Future,drawn up for the UN World Commission on Environment and Development. In her report, Brundtland, made ample use of the conclusions of an earlier debate in the World Council of Churches in 1974.

In practical terms, the politics of sustainable development should lead  to a number of concrete decisions, as a result of which modern-day living is simultaneously respectful of society, nature, the economy and the accumulated cultural heritage in its widest sense. Sustainable development is, in fact, a balanced approach to development. It is for this reason that, since the 1990s, when sustainable development first made it to Malta’s statute book, it was retained (on paper) as a direct political responsibility of the Prime Minister.

Sustainable development permeates all areas of policy and hence requires a senior politician in Cabinet to be in charge. Unfortunately, not even one of our prime ministers assumed direct political responsibility for the matter as, formally or informally, all of them delegated the matter to the Minister (or Parliamentary Secretary) responsible for the environment.

The Minister responsible for the environment cannot make much headway as he is dependent upon – and can in no way can he be expected to direct – his cabinet colleagues, most of whom are not really interested in sustainable development, anyway. A simple example will illustrate how all the talk on sustainable development by governments in Malta has been an exercise in managing hot air.

Consider the management of Malta’s road infrastructure, including public transport. This is clearly unsustainable and has been so for a long time. The public transport reform carried out under the direction of former Minister Austin Gatt was a public disservice as it made a bad situation even worse.

The management of Malta’s road infrastructure brings to the fore a number of issues, including mobility and air quality. Linked to these are traffic congestion, health impacts primarily due to poor air quality and the impact of the clogging of our roads on our economy through a substantial amount of time spent fuming at our steering wheels.

In May 2014, the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development of the University of Malta was commissioned by the European Union representation in Malta to carry out a study on the external costs of traffic and congestion in Malta. Among other things, this study, entitled The External Costs of Passenger and Commercial Vehicles Use in Malta, estimated that 1.7 per cent of Malta’s GDP is wiped out annually as a result of traffic congestion. This conclusion took into consideration both fuel wasted and time lost: approximately 52 hours per annum per commuter.

The study further emphasises that this estimate would rise to four per cent of the GDP if it also took into consideration traffic accidents, the impacts of air and noise pollution as well as the impact of greenhouse gases emitted.  (For comparison purposes, it is pertinent to remember that the real Malta GDP growth for 2017 is projected at 3.5 per cent.)

This is just one example. There are many more.

The logic of sustainable development would have inevitably led to an efficient public transport system ages ago and a substantially reduced number of cars on our roads. It is what one would expect in a small country where practically everywhere is within a stone’s throw of everywhere else.  Yet we get the complete opposite.

Once upon a time, the Cabinet had approved a National Strategy for Sustainable Development – yet Malta’s transport policy is still one which encourages more cars on the road.

 published in the Malta Independent on Sunday : 8 January 2017

It-tkeċċija ta’ Manwel Mallia minn Ministru

 

M’hiex xi ħaġa li tiġri spiss f’Malta li l-Prim Ministru jkeċċi wieħed mill-Ministri tiegħu.  L-anqas ma hi xi  ħaġa li għadna nieħdu ġost biha. Imma la ġrat irrid ngħid li Joseph Muscat għamel sewwa. Dam jaħsibha dsatax-il ġurnata. Il-kritika li nista’ nagħmillu hi dwar id-demwien, mill-bqija fil-fehma tiegħi mexa sewwa.

Imissu għamel  l-istess Lawrence Gonzi ma Tonio Fenech u ma Austin Gatt. Imma ma kellux il-kuraġġ. Forsi Joseph Muscat għamel il-kuraġġ bil-posizzjoni li ħadet il-media u l-opinjoni pubblika li instemgħet sewwa.

Avolja hi deċiżjoni li damet tinħema, id-deċiżjoni dwar it-tkeċċija ta’ Manwel Mallia minn Ministru taf tkun bidu ġdid għall-politika f’Malta.

Fir-rapport tagħhom it-tlett imħallfin irtirati jemfasizzaw il-ħtieġa li tintrefa r-responsabbilta’ politika u jikkummentaw kif ġej :

“In konnessjoni ma dan il-każ issemma l-konċett tar-responsabbilta’ Ministerjali għall-operat ta’ persuni li Ministru jkun għażel  u ħatar biex jaqdu funzjonijiet pubbliċi. Wieħed jinnota li dan il-konċett ta’ sikwit jiġi invokat mill-politiċi li jkunu fl-Opposizzjoni, iżda dawn malajr jinsewh appena  huma jkunu fil-Gvern.

Intqal li l-kultura tar-risenja, sfortunatament ftit li xejn qabdet għeruq f’pajjiżna. Wieħed isaqsi jekk waħda mir-raġunijiet għal dan toħrogx mill-fatt li ċerti għażliet u nomini – minn xufier ta’ Ministru sal-għola karigi fil-pajjiż – mhux dejjem isiru skond il-mertu, ħila u kwalitajiet intrinsiċi ta’ dak li jkun, iżda inveċe sikwit isiru fuq il-bażi ta’ kulur politiku, nepotiżmu, ħbiberija u konsiderazzjonijiet oħra mhux xierqa bħal dawn. Meta jiġri hekk, huwa ferm faċli, li persuni hekk magħżula, li ma jkollomx il-kwalitajiet kollha neċessarji biex jaqdu d-dmirijiet tagħhom, jiżolqu fin-niexef. Ta’ spiss żelqiet bħal dawn ma jinkixfux, u kollox jibqa’ għaddej daqs li kieku ma sar xejn, iżda s’intendi bi ħsara lill-pajjiż u l-governanza tiegħu. Jekk inveċe n-nuqqas li jkun isir magħruf, il-Ministru li jkun għażel u innomina l-persuna li ikkommettiet in-nuqqas, x’aktarx ma jkunx raġel biżżejjed biex jgħid pubblikament mea culpa u għall-bżonn jixħet ir-riżenja tiegħu talli jkun għażel persuna li ma kelliex il-kwalitajiet neċessarji biex taqdi d-dmirijiet li jkun assenjalha. Minflok dan il-Ministru malajr ixandar mal-erba t’irjieħ li hu ma kien jaf b’xejn dwar dak li ġara u jekk si tratta ta’ rejat kriminali, minnufih jagħmel rapport lill-Pulizija biex dawn jinvestigaw u jieħdu l-passi skond il-liġi. B’hekk isalva ġildu.” (paġna 11 tar-rapport tal-inkjesta)

Ir-responsabbilta’ politika m’hiex hemm għall-prietki. Hi x-xiber li bih għandu jkejjel il-Prim Ministru. Bid-deċiżjoni dwar Manwel Mallia jidher li fi ħsiebu jibda jagħmel użu minn dan il-kejl. Jagħmlu tajjeb il-Ministri u s-Segretarji Parlamentari li għadhom hemm li jieħdu l-każ ta’ Manwel Mallia bħala twissija.

Id-deċiżjoni dwar Manwel Mallia damet 20 ġurnata biex issir. Nittama li jekk ikun hemm każ ieħor ma jdumx daqshekk. Għax suppost li issa bdejna nitgħallmu.

 

ippubblikat fuq iNews it-Tlieta 16 ta’ Diċembru 2014

Dwar ir-responsabbilta’ politika, il-PN jipprietka biss

 

Meta tisma’ lil Simon Busuttil u lil Joseph Muscat jitkellmu dwar ir-rapport tal-inkjesta ippubblikat tard it-Tnejn, faċli tasal għall-konklużjoni li t-tnejn li huma għadhom ma tgħallmu xejn minn din l-esperjenza.

Joseph Muscat meta kellem lill-istampa fi Press Briefing għoġbu jagħżel raġuni inkorretta bħala r-raġuni għaliex fil-fehma tiegħu Manwel Mallia kellu jirriżenja. Joseph Muscat, meta għamel hekk, injora l-iktar parti importanti tar-rapport tal-inkjesta (paġna 11) li titkellem dwar ir-responsabbilta’ politika.

Din id-dikjarazzjoni tal-Bord tal-Inkjesta hi waħda qawwija ħafna.

Id-dikjarazzjoni tibda b’battuta li l-politiċi Maltin wara li jipprietkaw mill-Opposizzjoni, hekk kif jitilgħu fil-Gvern malajr jinsew kollox. Ir-rapport imbagħad jgħaddi biex jispjega għaliex (fil-fehma tal-awturi) dan qiegħed iseħħ. Il-ħatriet fil-pajiż (mill-iċken sal-għola) jsiru “fuq bażi ta’ kulur politiku, nepotiżmu, ħbibierija u konsiderazzjonijiet mhux xierqa bħal dawn”.  Dan, ikompli r-rapport, iwassal għal ħsara fit-tmexxija tal-pajjiż.

Din il-ħsara mhux dejjem issir magħrufa. Iżda meta dan iseħħ (jiġifieri li tkun magħrufa) “il-Ministru li jkun għażel u innomina l-persuna li ikkommettiet in-nuqqas, x’aktarx ma jkunx raġel biżżejjed biex jgħid pubblikament mea culpa u għall-bżonn jixħet ir-riżenja tiegħu talli jkun għażel persuna li ma kelliex il-kwalitajiet neċessarji biex taqdi d-dmirijiet li jkun assenjalha.”

Minflok, ikompli jgħid ir-rapport, “dan il-Ministru malajr ixandar mal-erba t’irjieħ li hu ma kien jaf b’xejn dwar dak li ġara”. Jekk imbagħad ikun seħħ reat kriminali l-politiku “jagħmel rapport lill-Pulizija biex dawn jinvestigaw u jieħdu l-passi skond il-liġi. B’hekk isalva ġildu.”

Filwaqt li fil-prinċipju naħseb li lkoll naqblu ma dan, il-problema hi li waqt li l-Partit Nazzjonalista fl-Opposizzjoni dan jipprietkah, fil-Gvern ma ipprattikaħx. Irid ikun rikonoxxut li din hi ir-raġuni ewlenija għar-reżistenza biex Manwel Mallia jirreżenja. L-eżempji ma jispiċċaw qatt, imma nistgħu nsemmu s-segwenti żewġ eżempji:

Tonio Fenech ma irreżenjax minn Ministru tal-Finanżi meta s-Segretarju Privat tiegħu ammetta fil-Qorti li kien irċieva flus ta’ korruzzjoni.

Austin Gatt ma irriżenjax minn Ministru meta sar magħruf li l-każ ta’ korrużżjoni dwar ix-xiri taż-żejt seħħ taħt Chairman tal-Enemalta li appunta hu.

 

Il-kritika fil-konfront ta’ Joseph Muscat hi li dam ħafna biex iċċaqlaq. U allura meta iċċaqlaq li messaġġ li ngħata kien li għamel dan mhux b’xi konvinzjoni li kellu jaġixxi b’dan il-mod imma minħabba l-pressjoni tal-opinjoni pubblika li saret iktar qawwija iktar ma għadda żmien.

B’hekk il-valur tal-pass il-quddiem li Ministru tneħħa f’dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi intilef minħabba d-dewmien li kien hemm.

Fi ftit kliem, dwar ir-responsabbilta’ politika, il-PN jipprietka biss, u meta kellu l-opportunita’ li jaġixxi m’għamel xejn. Imma fil-kaz ta’ Manwel Mallia il-Labour dam wisq biex iċċaqlaq.

The PN (now) needs you

Some, myself included, have received an SOS from the PN. The PN needs “our” input. It implores those receiving its SOS that it urgently requires the inputs of well-intentioned volunteers. Today’s PN leadership wishes to rebuild the party. That is, it wants to reconstruct what its predecessors have demolished.

Now such an exercise requires first and foremost an accurate appreciation of how and why the PN is in its present state.

When one reads through the report analysing the circumstances which led to the PN’s routing, which report was coordinated by current PN Executive Committee President Ann Fenech one can get an inkling as to why the PN is in a state of shambles. This comes through not just by reading the actual report (at least that part of it which is public) but through the line of thought which links each of the 38 pages of what is described as an Executive Summary of the actual report.

Apparently, according to the Ann Fenech report, everyone is at fault, except the PN. The PN was misunderstood and misinterpreted.

Ann Fenech’s report speaks of authorities and civil servants who “sabotaged” the PN-led government. Unfortunately Ann Fenech fails to bring this argument to its logical conclusion: that the PN Ministers and their private secretariats were an incompetent bunch if they did not notice this “sabotage” and take the appropriate action. They were even assisted by Boards, and Committees leading Authorities, sometimes at an exorbitant rate of pay, who at times were more of a rubber stamp than an Authority.

If this reasoning is not analysed and acted upon the reconstruction exercise will be futile as the foundations are the result of a  very weak reconstruction philosophy.

The PN has still not apologised for defying the divorce referendum result in Parliament. Nor has it sought absolution from the cultural community for defying reason in its persistence on the roofless theatre at the Royal Opera House site in Valletta. The PN’s stance on the roofless theatre was one which left no doubt that in the PN’s view everybody was in the wrong, except the PN.

The PN’s arrogance and its lack of social conscience personified in former Minister Austin Gatt and his entourage directing the “reform” of the Malta Drydocks as well as the Public Transport Reform seems to be a non-issue in Ann Fenech’s report.

Also surprisingly absent in Ann Fenech’s analysis is the PN’s shift away from the political centre under Lawrence Gonzi’s stewardship. Lawrence Gonzi inherited a left-of centre PN but when he left the leadership handed over a conservative party to Simon Busuttil. Ann Fenech’s report (as published) is silent on the matter. Most probably Dr. Ann Fenech and fellow co-authors Prof. Mary Anne Lauri, Dr Simon Mercieca, Ms Rosette Thake and Mr Malcolm Custó do not have an inkling as to the actual consequences of the PN in government during the period 2004-2013 moving along a conservative path.

Finally there are those who consider that those who did not support the PN in the March 2013 general elections had no valid reason to do so. In their view they did so as a result of an incorrect appreciation of the situation.

Some have supported and even voted in favour of specific measures adopted by the Lawrence Gonzi led government. These same persons are in the forefront now in 2014 supporting residents who are protesting against these same measures originally adopted by the PN led-government.   How is it possible for the PN and its leadership to be credible when some of its MPs act in this manner?

Crocodile tears will not lead to a reconstruction of the PN.

Published in The Independent Saturday August 16, 2014

Żmien il-bużullotti għadu magħna

Fil-qasam tat-transport pubbliku, minkejja l-paroli w it-tejatrin, żmien il-bużullotti għadu magħna. Jekk hux ser idum jew le għad irridu naraw.

Wasalna sa hawn għax il-Gvern ta’ Gonzi kellu fiduċja f’esperti li ma jifhmux u f’Ministru li jeċċella fil-bluff.

It-Trasport Pubbliku falla diversi snin ilu u r-riforma tiegħu kienet teħtieġ attenzjoni u sensittivita. It-tnejn li huma kienu nieqsa mir-riforma li wikkewlna. Għax filwaqt li kien hemm titjib fil-kwalita’ tal-karozzi tal-linja użati din ma kienitx riflessa ukoll fil-kwalita’ tas-servizz.

Il-puntwalita’, li f’diversi lokalitajiet kienet l-unika ħaġa tajba fis-servizz l-antika tat-trasport pubbliku, kienet l-iktar ħaġa li spikkat. Issa l-puntwalita’ hi l-iktar ħaġa bażika fis-servizz pubbliku. Flimkien mal-firxa tas-servizz hi l-iżjed fattur essenzjali li a bażi tagħha n-nies tagħżel li titlaq il-karozza privata d-dar.

Il-kejl tas-suċċess tat-trasport pubbliku m’huwiex biss li dan ikun ta’ kwalita’ iżda fuq kemm jirnexxilu jħajjar lin-nies jagħmlu użu minnu. It-tnaqqis tat-traffiku mit-toroq, għaldaqstant hu wieħed mill-modi kif nistgħu inkejlu s-suċċess jew le tat-trasport pubbliku. Jekk dan iseħħ inkunu nistgħu ngħidu li qed noqorbu lejn soluzzjoni. Jekk le, żmien il-bużullotti jibqa’ magħna.

Grazzi Sur Awditur Ġenerali

Min segwa dak li ġara s’issa fil-Kumitat għall-Kontijiet Pubbliċi seta jara kif l-Opposizzjoni Nazzjonalista għal darba oħra fetħet il-kanuni fuq l-Uffiċċju tal-Awditur Ġenerali bit-tama li iċċaqlaq l-attenzjoni minn fuq l-imġieba tal-ex Ministru Austin Gatt.

Naħseb li l-iktar diskors importanti li intqal mill-Awditur Ġenerali Anthony Mifsud u d-Deputat Awditur Ġenerali Charles Deguara kien meta fissru d-differenza bejn li tifformola l-politika tal-Gvern u li tieħu ħsieb li din tkun implimentata.

Meta l-Gvern permezz tal-Ministri tiegħu mhux biss jifformolaw il-politika (policy) iżda jfittxu li jindaħlu fid-dettall ikunu qed jindaħlu fejn m’għandhomx.  Ma jagħmilx sens li taħtar tim ta’ esperti u mbagħad tindaħlilhom. Jew huma esperti jew m’humiex.

Il-konklużjoni ta’ dan kollu hi li spiċċa ż-żmien tal-Ministri “hands on”. Il-Ministru mhux il-Manager. Qiegħed hemm biex jifformola l-politika li għandha tkun segwita. Imbagħad m’għandux jindaħal.

Kif qal  l-Awditur Ġenerali meta Ministru jindaħal fl-implementazzjoni tal-policy din hi prattika ħażina (bad governance) anke jekk il-liġi dan tippermettieh.

Grazzi Sur Awditur Ġenerali.

Spekulazzjoni dwar Alternattiva Demokratika

 

Hi normali li fejn l-informazzjoni tkun ftit nieqsa l-media tispekula dwar x’jista’ jkun qiegħed jiġri. Dan tagħmlu biex twassal ritratt tas-sitwazzjoni kif tkun qed tarah hi dak il-ħin.

Hekk qed tagħmel parti mill-media dal-għodu dwar it-tmexxija ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.

Fit-Torċa hemm artiklu interessanti ta’ Mark Camilleri intitolat Il-bidla u ċ-ċaqlieq ideoloġiku. Hu analiżi tas-sitwazzjoni attwali kif ukoll tal-mixja ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika tul dawn l-aħħar ħames snin. Ir-riflessjonijiet tiegħu huma validi u xejn ma jdejquni. Jistimulaw id-diskussjoni.

Hemm imbagħad artiklu fil-Malta Today intitolat Briguglio decapitates himself after internal criticism. Dan l-artiklu m’huwiex iffirmat. Jieħu spunti selettivi minn diskussjoni interna f’Alternattiva Demokratika u jibni storja fuq dan. L-inċens ma jonqosx. Jikkonkludi li d-deċiżjoni ta’ Michael Briguglio li jwarrab tidher mgħaġġla.

M’għandix dubju li l-awtur ta’ dan l-artiklu jifhem li partit politiku li fih m’hemmx diskussjoni ħajja (u jekk meħtieġ ukoll imqanqla) jkun partit mejjet. Id-dibattitu intern hu pre-rekwizit essenzjali għall-ħidma politika. Fortunatament f’Alternattiva Demokratika matul dawn il-ħames snin kien hemm diskussjoni ħajja u kontinwa.

Hemm imbagħad fil-Malta Today ukoll il-kumment ta’ Salvu Balzan fil-paġna tiegħu. Kumment dwari li donnu pprogrammat li jidher fil-Malta Today kull darba li jkun hemm il-kariga ta’ Chairman ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika battala. Għal darba oħra Salvu jibbottja li jekk jiena nieħu t-tmexxija ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika wara Michael Briguglio dan ikun diżastru madornali.

Hemm imbagħad kumment fil-paġna 7 tal-gazzetta l-Illum iffirmata mill-korrispondent li jiddeskrivi lilu innifsu bħala Il-poodle. Dawn l-osservazzjonijiet huma deskritti b’dan il-mod “Ġabra ta’ osservazzjonijiet bażati fuq il-veritajiet li qatt ma joħorġu għax hekk iridu”.

Mela Il-poodle jgħid ukoll li jiena irrid immexxi l-Ħodor. Jagħti ukoll ftit tal-kulur. Jgħid li fl-1996 meta kont għadni attiv fil-PN kont mort għand Austin Gatt flimkien ma George Pullicino u tlabtu (lill-Austin Gatt) biex jirreżenja.

Issa li kieku fl-1996 tlabt lil Austin Gatt biex jirreżenja ma kontx ser nistħi ngħid li għamilt hekk. Imma sfortunatament dan m’għamiltux.

Dwar it-tmexxija ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika naħseb li f’dan l-istadju ħadd għadu ma jaf xejn għax ħlief għal Michael Briguglio jidher li ħadd għadu ma ħa l-ebda deċiżjoni. Naħseb li jkun għaqli iżda li jkun hemm ħafna demm ġdid.