Fall of a shipyard

In our electoral manifesto, we publicly stated that we believed that the dockyard could have been turned into a viable concern had it been restructured in the proper way and political interference kept outside its gates. I have more than once stated my belief in the skills of the dockyard workers. Although the ship-repairing industry has changed since the yard's glory days in the 1960s, I personally still believe that, were the ancient skills of the yard to be properly harnessed, the enterprise could move forward using efficient and modern work systems and business strategies.

This has not been allowed to happen in spite of the massive financial injections the yard has received from the taxpayer. The Dockyard started to die the day the majority of its workers decided to stop repairing ships and to take to the streets to support the MLP's stated objective of ruling from the squares, being proudly described in the process as the MLP's "Eighth Army". In those heady days, few of those involved may have thought that the country would have to pay such a huge price - in financial, social and political terms - for their actions. The GWU's current threat to return to a time that is still burned into the memory of many, together with the presence of the top officials of the MLP at the meeting organised by the Union, has alienated any who may still have felt sympathy for the present plight of the 1,700 workers still left at the yard.

I believe that in the sad saga of the Dockyard, there are many culprits: the MLP who used the workers to terrorise the good citizens of Malta and Gozo; the workers themselves who so docilely allowed themselves to become political pawns; and the PN which has been in power long enough to remedy the situation but has constantly hid behind the mismanagement, and possibly worse, of those that it entrusted with the running of the yard. It is now throwing in the towel, claiming that, despite the expensive and costly retirement schemes launched a few years ago to bring down the workforce to a promised profitable level, that number must be further substantially slashed through yet more retirement schemes paid for by the taxpayer and, in the process, making it certain that Malta will not get a good deal.

I would also like to remind all independent-thinking citizens of the incredible fact that, despite the huge millions that, in their name, have been wasted on the yard, not a single head has rolled, not a single person has been made accountable. Malta's once largest industry has been allowed to be destroyed and, incredibly in a supposedly democratic country, nobody has answered for it.

Furthermore, I remind the government that the land occupied by the yard belongs to the people of Malta and may not be given away without their consent and certainly never in perpetuity.

The government should make its intentions clear. It is quite obvious that it is clearing the ground for a bidder or bidders that may already have spelled out their conditions for taking over the yard or, maybe, the real estate it holds. In view of its own sad history of mishandling the administration of the yard, the least the government can do to reassure the taxpayer that his financial sacrifice has not been totally in vain is to come clean with him.

Sadly, we are witnessing the death throes of this tiny island's greatest industrial achievement. It is more than ironic that the demise of such a great industry has been brought about by the political madness that grips our islands. Yet, in spite of all this, I still hold firmly to my belief that, if politics could be sidelined, this once proud and great industry can still be saved and retained in full possession by the people of Malta and Gozo.

Dr Muscat is the leader of Azzjoni Nazzjonali