Wieħed jissuspetta li fil-ħajja tal-lum, bl-użu dejjem jinfirex ta’ kompjuters u ta’ mezzi ta’ trasport, jistgħu jinqalgħu aktar malajr u forsi aktar ta’ spiss, emerġenzi li jaffettwaw is-sigurtà publika. Fit-toroq bit-traffiku jiżdied u x-xogħlijiet jinfirxu, fil-binjiet dejjem ogħla li telgħin, fit-tempesti aktar qawwija li l-bidla fil-klima tista’ ġġib magħha, bil-wirjiet dejjem akbar ta’ spettaklu u divertiment li qed jittellgħu…

Hu kruċjali li talanqas għal dawk l-emerġenzi li jistgħu jitbassru minn qabel, ikunu lesti ħidmiet ipprogrammati biex jilqgħu għalihom. Importanti wkoll li jsiru eżerċizzji regolari biex tinżamm verifika ta’ kemm it-tħejjijiet ikunu adekwati, kif ukoll biex isir aġġornament regolari ta’ kif jistgħu jitwettqu.

Għandha tinstab proċedura prudenti imma serja li biha jingħata rendikont lill-Parlament dwar il-qagħda fil-qasam tal-ilqugħ għall-emerġenzi b’diskussjoni li tippermetti bdil ta’ ideat dwar kif il-ħidma kollha tista’ tissaħħaħ.

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BŻONN TA’ KAMPANJA PROFESSJONALI

It-taħsir fix-xbiha tal-pajjiż ma bdietx ilbieraħ, għalkemm ftit konna indunajna b’li qed jiġri. Ir-rankaturi fis-servizzi finanzjarji u fuq kollox fil-qasam tal-imħatri bl-internet qanqlu dwarna interess negattiv sa mill-aħħar tad-deċennju ta’ qabel dan. Bdejna nitqiesu bħala ġenna fiskali. Dil-fehma żdiedet fl-aħħar snin. Hemm interessi li baqgħu jaħdmu biex dan jiġri u jkompli jiġri.

Dwar hekk żgur li għaddejja kampanja publiċitarja fuq bażi internazzjonali, maħsuba apposta biex tpoġġi lill-pajjiz f’rokna, mhux l-anqas f’oqsma fejn jinħadmu l-kuntatti Ewropej. Il-gvern qed jagħmel tajjeb li per mezz tal-Ministri tiegħu u oħrajn iwassal messaġġi li jfittxu juru realtà oħra mid-dehra li qed tixxandar ta’ pajjiżna.

Biss dan mhux biżżejjed. Neħtieġu kampanja professjonali, immexxija fuq linji kummerċjali minn esperti fil-qasam tar-relazzjonijiet publiċi biex tikkumbatti l-kampanja kontra li tinsab għaddejja.

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INFORZAR TAL-LIĠIJIET

Wieħed mis-setturi fejn baqagħlna biex nilħqu livelli sodisfaċenti hu dak tal-inforzar tal-liġijiet, speċjalment fejn hemm bżonn ta’ dixxiplina ċivika. F’das-sens, l-agħar dnubiet isiru fejn jinsabu telgħin binjiet ġodda, minkejja l-isforzi dejjem għaddejja biex jikkonvinċuna kemm is-settur tal-bini sar modern u dixxiplinat. Jiddispjaċini imma ħlief għall-minoranza li tinħass bħala eċċezzjonali, ta’ spiss hi ħaġa ċara li qed jiġri bil-maqlub.

Oqsma oħra madankollu jidinbu bl-istess mod. Fil-qasam tal-ambjent. Tal-abbużi fl-użu ta’ spażji publiċi, bħal fl-imwejjed u siġġijiet li jibilgħu l-bankini. Tal-impjiegi prekarji.

Malta għandha wieħed mill-ogħla riżultati fil-ħidma mwettqa biex direttivi u regolamenti tal-Unjoni Ewropea jiddaħħlu fil-pajjiż. X’aktarx imma li dan jindika biss li l-liġijiet inbidlu biex jirriflettu dak li qed “tordna” l-Unjoni Ewropea. Kemm qed jitwettqu tabilħaqq u mhumiex miżuri li baqgħu biss fuq il-karta tista’ tkun ħaġa oħra.

English Version – Emergencies

The suspicion is that in today’s world, as the use of computers multiplies – likewise use of means of transport – emergencies that affect public security can arise more quickly and perhaps more often. Consider how traffic in streets is increasing, how public works just spread while building sites go higher and higher, how climate change could be bringing in its wake stronger tempests, and how public shows become

It is crucial that at least for those possible emergencies that can be foreseen, programmed responses exist to contain them when they occur. It is also important to run regular exercises to check whether preparations are adequate, as well as in order to update their implementation.

A prudent and serious procedure would need to be established to report to Parliament about the system by which to face up to emergency situations – including discussion that allows space for ideas regarding how the whole effort can be improved.

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Needed: A professional PR campaign

The deterioration in the island’s image did not commence yesterday though we hardly realised what was going on. The roll experienced in financial services and above all in internet gaming stimulated a negative reaction from abroad towards Malta as of the end of the last decade. We were increasingly judged to be a tax haven. Such a view has gained ground in recent years. There are interests which kept up endeavours to make this happen and continue to happen.

An international publicity campaign is certanly being run, especially where European contacts operate, in order to intentionally drive the island into a corner. The government is doing the right thing when it strives via its ministers and other representatives, to pass along messages that portray a different reality from the one that is being relayed about Malta.

However this is not enough. We need a professional campaign, run on commercial lines by experts in public relations to counter the anti-Malta campaign that is ongoing.

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Enforcement

A sector where we still need to attain satisfactory outcomes is in law enforcement, especially where there is a need for a show of civic discipline. In this line, the worst transgressions occur where new buildings are being constructed, and this despite the ongoing efforts to convince us how modern and disciplined the construction sector has become. I regret having to write this, but except for the minority that is felt as really a minority, all too frequently it is quite clear that the contrary is the case.

And yet, other sectors commit similar sins. Consider: the environment; the flagrant abuses in the annexation of public spaces as with tables and chairs that take over pavements; precarious jobs.

Malta has one of the “best” results by way of how EU directives and regulations get injected into national law. It could be though that this simply indicates how laws are being amended to reflect the changes which the EU is laying down. Whether they are really being implemented and do not just remain as paper commands – that’s another matter.

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