The quest for a consensual approach on ICT policy

It is sad indeed that the minister responsible for IT so totally rejects any attempt by the Labour Party to achieve a consensual approach on this country's ICT policy. Any proposal relating to IT made by the MLP is greeted with a hysterical and abusive reaction by the ministry. Very often the minister resorts to personal attacks and tries, somewhat pathetically, to project himself as being the only individual who knows anything about IT. His implied claim is, in fact, that any progress in this sector was only achieved in the last four years since he become the minister responsible for IT. Such a confrontational approach to policy making and actuation in IT has no place in today's world.

It merits, however, to keep in mind two facts.

The first is that the structures and processes for the planning and formulation of a national strategy in IT were laid in the years 1994 to 1998, during first a Nationalist and then a Labour Administration. This effort actively engaged individuals and entities from across the board, private and public sectors, academia, constituted bodies, telecom companies and a host of other entities. The strategies were developed by all the stakeholders and not simply dictated from the top by a minister aided by a small group of blinkered "advisors".

The second point is that the major growth in the IT sector has been, to a considerable extent, the result of efforts of private sector companies active in the sector and not particularly through direct government investment or leadership. National ICT policies are required to provide a stable supportive framework and to ensure the attainment of educational objectives as well as to work constantly against the digital divide. But it is the private sector that must be actively encouraged to lead the way in our developing this industry to help us become the regional centre of excellence that we aspire to be. And it is in this area that Minister Austin Gatt remains untypically silent. Our software industry has had some successes but the lack of active government support for the industry has stunted its growth and the industry's presence on the export market, with some small exceptions, is insignificant. Dr Gatt also seems to have the odd notion that once he has come up with an idea, anybody who dares to discuss it in any way or offer constructive criticism is incompetent, inconsistent, ignorant and with malicious intent.

As an aside, we should perhaps remember how vehemently Dr Gatt himself was opposed to the idea of introducing low-cost carriers into Malta. He does not seem to consider his views then as being inconsistent with subsequent government policy or of having been guilty of making any U-turn!

Dr Gatt has also accused the MLP of considering the various schemes introduced in the last days as electoral gimmicks. The MLP is certainly not against the introduction of these schemes and I, in fact, committed to strengthening any means of making education in IT more readily available and accessible and in ensuring that the benefits of IT are distributed over the whole population. However, it has to note the cynical way in which this has been done in that more schemes were launched in the last few days before the election than had been launched in the previous 10 years. That Dr Gatt should wake up to the country's IT requirements in this last few weeks is a clear indictment of the way his policy making works.

No matter how Dr Gatt tries to pervert the truth, the fact remains that Labour is strongly committed to strengthening this crucial sector and in using ICTs to help solve our country's problems and improve the quality of life of all citizens. And we again invite the PN to work together in this area and achieve a consensual approach as to how to tackle the needs of tomorrow's knowledge economy.

Mr Brincat is Labour's spokesman on IT and foreign affairs and an electoral candidate.