Our national interest

Forty years of independence have just been commemorated and the event is now part of history. The remarkable accomplishments secured as we developed into a nation since 1964 are a success story, allowing us finally to meet our European vocation and form part of a European Union of 25 constantly seeking to maximise the political, economic, social and cultural dimensions for the benefit of all its citizens. Efficiency, accountability and delivery are of the essence to these concepts and that is precisely what we are implementing in government here, too.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was clear and unmistakable when last Monday he highlighted Malta's priorities for the years to come. It is no longer acceptable or tenable that certain work practices continue as here lies the interest of our nation as a whole and not of a selected few.

I believe it has now transpired through various contributions in the media that one of the paramount sectors which is being targeted are our ports. We have spoken too much about them. Too many reports have been commissioned. They served as the basis for discussion within the Ports Consultative Council but, yet again, all stakeholders have discussed and rediscussed this issue for far too long now to have to start all over again.

The Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, the Federation of Industry and, in the past few days, the General Workers' Union have, at my office, expressed their satisfaction that the government will in the near future set the ball rolling by taking action to implement this reform. All have a direct or indirect interest that the goals we speak about are achieved and I appreciate their determination to be on board with the government.

I hope everyone identifies responsibilities and shortcomings and acknowledged that change is due. Believing in the worker's interests does not mean that the worker will linger on with practices of 20, 30 years ago. Neither will we accept that certain workers within the port structure are idle all day long.

I hope that when rights will be defended, it will not be the rights of the selected few or a small section of an institution or organisation interested in our ports. I augur that the right to work, the right to attract further investment and the right to get paid for what is efficiently delivered will top their agenda.

If we agree that ship-shore operations should not be separated, as is the practice today, will the interested parties be in tandem to form cooperatives quoting competitive tariffs for their task? Ship agents claim they are not in a position to generate and attract more cargo to Malta due to added expenses emanating from the service providers. Will there be agreement on the setting up of one terminal operator taking care of all the operations against set tariffs, thus stopping completely the practice that monies are handled by ship agents and the cargo handling company, resulting again in double practices?

I believe that port workers agree that in today's working environment productivity and cost-effectiveness are not enhanced through the present methods of work. It is efficiency that counts here. If we achieve that, I am more than confident that income could possibly increase. What I am surely confident of is that none of the service providers within the port regime are pleased to state that import/export operations in Malta are among the most expensive in the Mediterranean. It surely does not make any logic to me that, abiding by this statement, present service providers will hold on to present practices and boast of this scenario whilst refusing change.

I also call upon the Malta Labour Party to pull up its socks and, as the second largest party in Malta, admit to the need of this reform. It is high time the opposition looks upon issues of national interest keeping in mind a national consensus. That is political maturity.

But the MLP has the habit of keeping aback and then only comments when the process is over. Is this what it means by political responsibility towards the people? Some things do indeed never change.

The year 2004 will mark the end of talks on the port reform, the details, contingencies and the way forward and 2005 will be the year when most changes are planned to take place.

Mr Galea is Minister for Competitiveness and Communications

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