On my arrival at Malta International Airport last week to catch a flight (not quite at the recommended time prior to such) I found that the lights had gone out. As is to be expected in an “international” airport, there are generators in place in order to back up Malta’s ailing and failing electricity system.

Now, it is normal in this day and age, not only in a worldwide sense, but particularly of interest to us, in no less than “project Malta”, with Vision 2015, smart cities, corporate villages, and all sorts of other fancy names, to have a generator trip on (is that the right word?) within a split second of the main electricity supply dying out on us. Only carrying hand luggage, I did not notice whether the conveyer belt and other equipment at the check-in desk were working, but I do know that the lights immediately above the desk were off and came on (as the staff observed) as I was departing.

But more was to come. I found an unusually long queue at the security/scanning area. I was advised that, as a result of the electricity cut (and presumably the generators not doing their job properly) the scanning system had been let down by its computers, which would take some time to get going again. Many of us more or less just made our flight. I have read recently that Malta International Airport plc (or MIA as it is more commonly known) has registered a handsome profit. MIA could you please get your act in order, so as to be in line with other “international” airports as far as the necessary remedies or contingency plans for mishaps such as electricity cuts are concerned?

With regard to contingencies or rather contingency plans, we could have a word about Joseph Muscat and his “Partit Laburista”. Do this lot know exactly what they want or where they are going? On pornography and its antithesis, namely censorship, a “mistake” was made in voting in favour of a Bill in Parliament. Regarding divorce, no stand has been taken in terms of the party, yet Dr Muscat said he would move a Private Member’s Bill in favour of divorce when Prime Minister. The problem for him is that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has pulled the carpet from under his feet by moving a Private Member’s Bill himself, well in anticipation of Dr Muscat possibly becoming Prime Minister, thus also pushing the PN to take a stand – positive, negative or downright neutral; the latter probably being the case.

Many months after Dr Muscat’s supposed earthquake, new horizons and, in effect, an aborted honeymoon, apparently he just does not know where he is. He has spoken about solving the strife in his party – what strife? We had been told for many months that things were OK in the PL, and the party faithful and the naïve actually believed it. To admit that things were not OK is an admission that might be sincere, but does not say much for credibility. Anyway, the PL might have a well-meaning and perhaps energetic leader (let’s give him the benefit of the doubt), but as for the rest it looks very much like a patchwork of misfits in the other top posts. Certainly, they will not be able to complete a jigsaw puzzle. It is unfortunate for this country of ours that we do not have a valid alternative government. Mind you, the PN also has a lot to do to get its house in order.

We have become very much aware of the benefits of cycling and the need to promote and protect this activity and even sport. Unfortunately, as in so many other areas, this awareness has been born from tragedies and accidents. But the bull has now to be taken by the horns and the issue tackled, whatever the expense.

In many continental countries, particularly the Nordic ones, and more so Scandinavia, cycling is a normal mode of transport. Cyclists are treated like sacred cows. They prevail over motorists and even pedestrians. Cycling is positive in many ways. To mention just three advantages: less traffic congestion, reduced air pollution and healthier citizens. So let’s get on with it. We need a whole new infrastructure. We are talking these days about loads of roads being resurfaced and in many cases reconstructed. The designation of bicycle lanes should go hand in hand with this. A master plan must be drawn up. Ministry for Transport and Transport Authority get on with it!