I cannot imagine how the owners of a specialised maritime ferry company, like Virtu Ferries, could overnight decide to register a food processing company and participate in a public tender exercise to supply processed food products to government hospitals. It appears unlikely that Virtu Ferries would, furthermore, manage to beat a renowned and experienced Gozo tomato company and win the tender to supply tomato products to local hospitals.

Switching roles, I struggle to visualize how, in a matter of days, a food processing company could decide to register a fast ferry company to quickly participate in a public, experienced-based, tender contest for the provision of a fast-ferry service between Malta and Gozo.

Stretching my imagination, with difficulty, I want to visualize a situation whereby the newborn maritime company, of the food processing owners, actually wins the tender. The loser being none other than Virtu Ferries, a company with vast Malta, Sicily and Venice fast-ferry operations experience.

In respect of the second instance described above, I do not require to stretch my imagination, as this is exactly what has happened, an extraordinary event.

Barely days after being registered, novel “Ferry Network Ltd” has beaten Virtu Ferries. This episode might appear to be an unusual occurrence, but in Malta today I do not think it is so, since bewildering happenings seem to have become the norm.

What does not seem to be the norm however, is the reaction, following its exclusion, of Virtu Ferries. This company is rebelling, as it deems the tendering outcome to be unjust. Virtu Ferries commenced court proceedings, against the tender adjudicators, to annul what it declares to be an incorrect selection process.

Incorrect, since among stated basic requirements, and very wisely and justly so, there featured the need, on the part of applicants, to have experience and expertise in maritime fast-ferrying. An experience that Virtu Ferries definitely has, and whoever else might not have.

The island needs business leaders who stand up for their rights when required

As the selection process has been suspended, it is now up to our law courts to determine whether the non-selection of Virtu Ferries occurred in a correct manner. The law courts may find in favour of either party, Virtu Ferries or the selection committee.

Intending no negative reflection, or prejudice, against Virtu’s competitors, some comments on this episode are here called for.

I salute the people of Virtu Ferries for their responsible stand as they feel they are the victims of an, as yet unproven, injustice. Were we to have many more companies, like Virtu Ferries, ready to take action on their perception of unfairness in commercial transactions, the business environment in Malta would end up much better off.

The island needs business leaders who stand up for their rights when required.

Business people, entrepreneurs, employers, have a legitimate claim to operate in an environment free from perceived or actual dubious practices. Business advantages and favours, as they may be dubiously granted, end up penalizing taxpayers and consumers.

An unclear and perverted tendering process cheats taxpayers and consumers on two counts.

Firstly, a fair and reasonable price for goods or services will not be achieved if a fundamental competitive cost aspect is irresponsibly ignored. Consumers could so become victims of unjustified high prices.

Secondly, a non-judicious choice of an inadequate supplier of goods or services will negatively affect the soundness and quality of the service or the product.

A focus on expertise and experience does help to better ensure competence. Taxpayers and consumers should be taking more interest into how the government conducts relations with business. They should watch and monitor more closely how the relationship works out.

So we have to wait to see how the conclusive outcome of the ferries versus tomatoes impasse will unfold. We, however, can still make some reflections, in the shape of queries, on the value of “experience”.

Would you enjoy a higher level of peace of mind, when skimming over rough waters at 40 knots per hour, knowing the service operator to be an experienced seafarer? Would you enjoy a higher level of peace of mind, eating processed food products, knowing the supplier to be a serious, long established, reputable food processor with vast international food export experience?

This is a Times of Malta print opinion piece

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