Where's our government?

It has been close on two months since the Nationalist Party was returned to government. Had the Labour Party managed to squeeze in, I would not have been surprised by a period of "running in", so to speak, because they have been absent from government for the past 20 years. But not for the incumbent.

Should it not have been a question of a few days of celebration and recovery and then back to normal governance? Instead, the only notable political news I can think of in the last odd 60 days is the formation of a new Cabinet and the process to select a new Leader of the Opposition.

Other than that? Zilch. What is happening to this blessed country of ours?

We finally read about the re-opening of the Manwel Dimech Bridge, a project that should bring a blush to all those who were involved in it. I recently witnessed an avenue of the same length and width being taken apart and resurfaced in one night! It has taken our people two years to "reconstruct" this essential thoroughfare.

Then we read another report of the infamous Dar Malta in Brussels, which I had criticised so much at the time it was purchased. According to this report in The Times, half of the building is being offered on lease. Does anybody remember me saying that a building half the size of Dar Malta would have been more than adequate for a country of our size? It seems I might have been right, after all. What is the final cost of this speculative purchase? We know the property was bought for about €20 million. Let us assume that the cost of refurbishment brought the total outlay to about €35 million. Half the building has been empty for four years. Therefore, the opportunity cost of this half alone probably runs to about €5 million. I could think of many better uses to put that money to. Dar Malta is best forgotten and consigned to our glorious history.

Although the increase in the number of tourist arrivals provides us with welcome reading, one needs to drill down to get a more realistic picture. I am informed by hoteliers that, although the number of visitors (mainly brought by low-cost airlines) was definitely up during the past year, this tourist segment tends to spend fewer nights in Malta so that the total bed nights, which is what provides their revenue, is not improving to the same degree.

Then, what can we possibly say about brand Malta? I challenge anybody who has visited most other European destinations to place their hand on heart and ask the question: Why do people come to Malta? The whole island is so shabby, it is close to unbelievable. Of course, some progress has been made but we need to set our sights much higher. Perhaps the time has come for a Minister of Standards.

The retort we have so much history is starting to wear very thin. There is so much history everywhere and, at least, other countries look after what they have. We allow our "jewels" to rot and fall apart. Take the entrance to and the bastions of Valletta as just two small examples of the inertia in our country. It makes all those who care about Malta want to cry. Does it take rocket science to clean the bastions and rid ourselves of that disgusting entrance to Valletta?

Malta's general environment has been ruined to a very large degree by the so-called building boom of the last 20 years. Not surprising really when you read the shocking news that over 4,000 permits were issued for building outside development zones. Everywhere you go you see the most atrocious and unimaginative apartment blocks. I am no architect or designer but I think I could probably have done a better job in many of the cases. Go to Dubrovnik. Go to Simi and see what I mean. Is there nobody out there who realises how short-sighted we are being?

The Prime Minister has taken on Mepa and the tourism portfolio. It is a very courageous decision. I sincerely hope he is successful in his endeavours.