Friday, 5th December 2008
Editorial
Clear signs of bad timing and arrogance
It looks as if the government has not found its feet yet following the March general election, which it won by a slim majority. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the Nationalists had not prepared themselves well for another win, thinking perhaps that, in the wake of so much unfavourable criticism in the months leading to the election, the electorate was bound to vote for a change of Administration. The fact that they had in fact won is another story but it is becoming clear that the government needs to re-establish its bearings well before moving on to carry out its programme. Nine months into its third successive Administration, signs of bad timing, and arrogance, even at ministerial level, are indicating lack of preparedness. Arrogance is earning it much displeasure, but, strangely, it does not seem to be noticing it.
The government is right in deciding to do away with subsidies but it has to do so gradually and, more importantly, at the right time. The timing of its decision to remove the subsidy on electricity, for instance, was bad on two counts: first because of the impact the recession abroad is likely to have on industry and tourism, and, secondly, because, the move has come at a time when the price of crude oil has plummeted. True, the government, as it has been repeatedly saying all along, buys fuel in its refined state but even so, psychologically at least, the timing is incorrect. The government would have to keep in mind, too, the impact the rise would have on those who, due to a drop in order books, have found themselves out of work or are working a reduced working week.
The timing is considered even more incorrect when considering that the government has said that its primary aim is to make people cut waste. This is a laudable aim but the exercise should be done over time and certainly not in the slipshod manner in which it is being undertaken. The government should have known that a sudden sharp rise would provoke a strong reaction but it did not factor this in, causing much confusion, uncertainty and even a street protest by the trade unions, which, for once, forgot their usual parochial rivalry and joined forces to press for the re-opening of talks with the government.
Even the way it "consulted" with the social partners was wrong. The government either believes in consultation or it does not but if it does it should not deal with the social partners in the way it did over the water and energy rates. The social partners within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development felt hurt and irritated by the government's attitude. They felt the way they were treated was disparaging and unacceptable. Had the exercise been done properly it would not have dragged on and much energy - and disagreements - would have been avoided. If anything, therefore, the issue should serve the government as a lesson not to take consultation lightly, as it did at first over the water and energy rates.
Timing and consultation also come into play in the matter over the government's plan to move Parliament to a new building at the old Royal Opera House site and the rebuilding of City Gate. The project, long, long overdue, would have to be seen as an additional economic stimulus as otherwise its timing would be wrong too, considering the difficult economic times being forecast. Here things need to move ahead... and fast.
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Comments
Who knows maybe with the high levels of activities you will attracting from abroad (similar to La Scala) you will start doing profit.
the key word in your editorial is 'timing'. Gold-medalists have that sixth sense in common. Any public performance needs perfect timing to succeed in the face of history.
The bundling together of the rehabilitation of the bombed Royal Opera House (ROH) site with the City Gate projects is ill-timed.
The ROH site is part of Malta's cultural heritage and identity. Nothing but a national theatre should go up on that sacred site. Our history of illustrious Eurpean and Maltese performers gracing the site by their visits should be cherished as the envy of many a Mediterranean island state. To build a utility construction on the ROH site is like building a hamburger joint on your father's grave.
We have waited over 60 years with the hope of seeing a new splendid theatre erected there. We are prepared to wait more for the right decision. This is not a children's intensive therapy clinic we are talking about. Time will tell whether our patience has paid.
The Royal Opera House site is a treasure chest of our British and European cultural credentials. It is our patriotic duty to preserve such. Hasty, unilateral decisions will be punished by Father Time.
Ask Borg Oliver that whenever he sends an e-mail he double checks to whom he is sending it before he actually sends it!!
The GRTU the union which represent the richest section of the Maltese people. at one time during the discussions one of its high officials ORROGANTLY stated that the GRTU will advise its members NOT to pay the new tariffs.
Now take for example the proposed building of the road at Ghadira. In this case a FORIEGNER is ARRONGTLY dictating that this road should not be built resulting in loss of EU funds. Any goverment democritically elected wheter by 1,500 or 15000 votes is elected to legislate in the best interest of the country and not in the interest of birds or of extreme organization which most are now becoming arrogant as much as you have accused the govt.
It is irresponsible and scandalous of our government to impose more taxes while given golden handshakes to parliamentarians whom the electorate threw out of Parliament. And as for the Ministers' salary rise...shocking! We today read that four Ghanians who came here illegally are being returned to Ghana with their flights being paid by the E.U. / Maltese government. Each has also received 5000Euros to set up a business back home'. Tell that to the Maltese working a reduced week! Sorry this is not national leadership. It's stark lunacy. The worst thing is that people like J. Martinelli keep jumping at the chance to look good with our politicians no matter what! Shame!
It's true that the government has no control over the price of fuel but it can control the extraordinary high surcharge it is charging households with the excuse of safeguarding jobs. The conservative mentality of 'laissez-faire' and of 'is-suq isuq' is not the way forward.
When finances are in good shape the good ratings should be given by Maltese families, not by Moody's. The average wage earner in Malta is finding it hard to cope with the surcharge, and the high cost of living.
Some current Ministers would although qualified in their respective field (aw, accountancy, medicine, architecture, etc), require an extensive course in Management by Objectives, Public Relations and in Communication Skills. Sadly, these Ministers are losing the plot, their credibility and that of the government. Wake up to reality please. the days of "jew b-xejn jew xejn" (Karmenu Midsud Bonnici) or those of "we are here to lead not to be led" (Wistin Abela) are long gone.
The attitude of all-of-us Maltese is not as you understand it and/or as it really is.
The Maltese were called upon to bear loads of major changes and major surgey in the past few years - all done at a very fast clock pulse too; all done to be in conformance with EU.
No one ever said this was ARRGANT. Yes, most complained it was hard which it was.
I agree that fuel prices etc are unpredictable. Fuel needs to be paid for whatever the cost.
I think you missed the point.
Point is that I would never consider myself to be a good leader if, as soon some costs go out of conformance with the norm, I resort to increase costs - i.e. without due consideration to A) how competitive we remain B) how much we could lower costs via more lean, mean and effective methods of operation C) the timimg and impimentation period of the remaining costs to avoid hardships.
The point is Attitude. And attitude changes everything. In fact all unions joined and the common stand was - This-attitude-is-unacceptable.
That is how much it is! Pass on the bug.
The government has no control on the timing of recessions and bank collapses around the world.
The government has no control on the price of imported fuel.
The government cannot change pricing of energy daily as prices float since fuel used today may have been purchased months ago.
When government makes certain decisions which do not amount to giving money away to the citizens at large is always labeled as 'arrogance' - especially in Malta. People with limited vocabulary always pick a few favourite words exceeding a couple of syllables and hang on to them dearly. Arrogance, is one of them.
With regards to City Gate and ROH, the timing seems perfect as this is a project which will create jobs at a time when we are apt to lose some.
@ Wenzu Vella - there is no such thing as 'sovereign debt' - do you mean national debt? If the finances were in such a bad shape why does the government continue to get favourable ratings from Moodys and others?
Malta's sovereign debt may have reached a critical point and that's why the subsidies had to be removed.
The Opera House and City Gate is just a smokescreen to give the people somthing to talk about, because if the government don't have the finances to continue the subsidies at this crucial time, where, would the millions for these two very expensive projects will be coming from.
"The move has come at a time when the price of crude oil has plummeted. True, the government, as it has been repeatedly saying all along, buys fuel in its refined state" - wow!
Is the government implying that the price of crude does not affect the price of fuel by much?, you couldn't make this up!