Burst bubbles and messages

Only a few days after the elections of the European Parliament, it is becoming ever clearer how the Labour Party (PL) is willing to say and do anything that will hinder the government's work as long as it acquires votes. Meanwhile no alternative solution is forthcoming.

A typical case is that of MEP Louis Grech. Prior to the elections he made a series of allegations regarding the incinerator to be constructed beside the Delimara power station as proposed by a team of experts. Mr Grech went as far as requesting the European Commission for the Environment, Stavros Dimas to intervene. He even sent a leaflet to every household in Marsaxlokk. However, two days ago, this same European commissioner burst Mr Grech's bubble by declaring that "the government has every right to locate an incinerator next to the Delimara power station".

Something needs to be done with the waste that is generated: 20 per cent of it is recycled and 60 per cent of organic waste will go for digestion. The remainder (refuse derived fuels - RDF) is not adequate for recycling or digestion. It can only be buried in a landfill or be thermally treated with energy recovery. What's wrong with recovering energy from waste in this way? Mr Grech should be aware that emissions from any incinerator are regulated by European standards. - June 18.

Opportunism

Once again, the PL takes an irresponsible position that confirms the cheap political opportunism of the opposition. Their focus now turned on tuna fishermen! The opposition condemned the government for closing the tuna fishing season. In reality this season was closed last week in order to ensure that we keep to the national quota limits established by ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna) of which Malta is a member.

This commission had agreed on a programme spread over a number of years that would ensure that certain species of tuna would be allowed to replenish after long years during which the species was threatened by indiscriminate over-fishing.

It is after all the very fisherman who benefits from control and sustainability of this species as he can rest assured of adequate fish stocks in the coming years. This is what brought the government to plan a scheme of allocating a national quota in agreement with the fishermen co-operatives.

Hopefully, various organisations, both local and international and that have always strived for measures in favour of the sustainability of this species, take note of the opposition's announcement and recognise the political opportunism it adopts - June 16.

Fusion of art and science

It was my great pleasure to recently visit an exhibition of paintings by young artist Elizabeth Saguna at the Auberge d'Italie in Valletta.

I believe that Elizabeth demonstrates great versatility in her expression of figurative scenery as well as abstract art. I also observed how this artist succeeded in combining her professional experience as a scientist in her art.

Some of her works may seem abstract, yet, in fact they portray microscopic structures and cells that live around us and which she daily examines under microscope as part of her daily work.

I thoroughly enjoy such activities with Maltese artists exhibiting their own works. The fact that public buildings, like Auberge d'Italie, are being used for such occasions is a step in the right direction. The worthiness of our talented artists and such initiatives as this one will surely provide a great future for Maltese art. Well done Elizabeth - June 15.

The people spoke

The European Parliament elections have come and gone. A few reflections: politics is a tool in the hands of a nation's population. In its sovereignty, it forms its judgment on the fulfilment of political performance. Not all elections have the same purpose. Clearly, general elections give the people the opportunity to judge and choose the programme they wish to adopt, however all elections send other messages that need to be clearly heeded by politicians.

The people have made their choice and the absolute majority of votes and seats favoured the representatives of the PL. The Prime Minister was correct in saying: I bow before the people's judgment.

It is easy for the opposition to criticise. Surely far easier than to be governing a country in the midst of worldwide economic upheaval hitherto unseen and which is forcing to their knees entire financial empires that only very recently were considered to be giants. However, the people are now telling us that changes need to be done in the way in which certain measures are being implemented. History teaches us that we were in the same situation five years ago; we listened to the message and we won the general election. - June 11.

Mr Pullicino is Minister of Resources and Rural Affairs

www.georgepullicino.blogspot.com