Bad timing or insensitivity

When will our politicians show a shade more sensitivity towards people's feelings and aspirations before taking what can be termed as "controversial" decisions?

A few years ago I criticised the expenditure of some €23 million on Dar Malta in Brussels. I thought, and still do, that it is not the government's role to "play" the property developer. Furthermore, the decision was made at a time when people were being asked to tighten their belts in order to rein in a ballooning public deficit. It now appears that I have been vindicated in my criticism as five floors of office space remain empty.

Viewed from any angle, Dar Malta will, in my mind, always remain a bad decision notwithstanding the advice the government received from so-called experts. Our country could well have done with a much smaller building and in a less expensive part of Brussels. We need to accept that we cannot afford this kind of extravagance.

Residential and commercial users are now faced with steep increases in tariffs for water and electricity. While the quantum of the increase is debatable, it seems that all parties agree that an increase is inevitable. But again, why now? If the intention of the government was to slam the brakes on consumer expenditure then it has surely succeeded. The world is reeling from one of the worst economic slowdowns in recent years and the water and electricity rates hikes have only exacerbated the local situation. Could this measure not have been phased in over a number of years by means of a forward contract at the current oil price of about $50 per barrel and then balancing this deal against what Enemalta has already purchased?

According to a report in another section of the press, (as yet to be confirmed or denied by the authorities) ministers have "awarded themselves" a wage increase of €15,000 per annum. I agree that a minister's remuneration needs to be brought in line with what is being paid in the private sector, so one could argue that their new salary of just under €50,000 is not excessive. I would add however that, unlike us mere mortals, who have their pension capped at a maximum of about €10,000 annually, no such capping exists in the case of ministers and parliamentarians so that a minister's annual pension could now well be in excess of €30,000 annually. Even here I ask: Was this the right time to implement this measure and why was it not done in a more transparent manner?

Now for the icing on the cake.

As a finale to the never ending City Gate sitcom that has been running for the best part of 20 years, the government has decreed that a new Parliament will be constructed on the site formerly occupied by the opera house. It is true that this debate has been going on for 50 years but why should this site be devoted to Parliament? Why not a centre of arts and culture? Even the Prime Minister is quoted as saying that he does not want the entrance to Valletta to be a hub of business but one of culture and heritage.

There are other options the government might like to consider for our 65 parliamentarians. One of these could be the demolition of the former food market in Merchants Street, the footprint of which is probably not much smaller than that of the old opera house. Renzo Piano is undoubtedly an architect of world repute and I am sure he can design a multi-level, futuristic and iconic building as a Parliament building that will symbolise Malta's high- tech vision.

I believe that Mr Piano's original concept for the city entrance evolved from his view that a city entrance should invite people in and not shut them out. That being the case, wouldn't it be ironic that one of the very first buildings to greet visitors entering Valletta would in fact be inaccessible to the public!

Of course, decisions must be taken. That is what a government is elected to do. But there are many ways and styles of informing the electorate of government decisions.

Timing is also of the essence. I don't think that in the prevailing economic situation many people will react very positively to being told that whereas their wages are increasing by €200 annually in 2009, ministers are to receive a rise of €15,000. Additionally, what will be the reaction of those same tax payers when told that some €50 million of their taxes are to be spent on a new Parliament building?

The ancient Greek poet Hesiod said that "the right timing is in all things the most important factor". The government could perhaps take heed of these words of wisdom.