Fiż-żmien li kienet topera l-lukanda Jerma, ma kinitx toħloq ix-xogħol biss għaliha bir-residenti li talloġġja. Minnhom kienu jibbenefikaw ir-ristoranti u l-postijiet ta’ divertiment f’Wied il-Għajn u l-madwar. Pereżempju, matul ix-xhur tax-xitwa kienu joqogħdu fil-Jerma residenti pjuttost anzjani li kienu mbagħad għal nofsinhar jew filgħaxija jitreqju fir-restoranti tal-qrib.
Wara li għalqet il-lukanda, l-ekonomija taż-żona kollha qalgħet daqqa li niddubita kemm irpiljat minnha sal-lum.
Matul is-snin qalulna li lukanda waħidha ma trendix. (Din li f’settur turistiku bħal ta’ Malta, l-operat ta’ lukanda ma jistax ikun vijabbli waħdu għadni ma nistax nifhimha.)
Xejn ma naqbel ma’ proposta biex minflok lukanda jittellgħu appartamenti ta’ lussu. Għandna biżżejjed minnhom u kerrhu biżżejjed wiċċ il-pajjiż. Jekk lukanda fiċ-ċirkostanzi attwali ma treġix f’Wied il-Għajn, il-gvern għandu jara kif joħloq għaliha inċentivi ta’ operat li bihom treġi, igħidu xi jgħidu r-regolamenti tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
***
Fil-Mosta
Jekk fhimt tajjeb il-proposta tal-kunsill lokali tal-Mosta, għandha tinbidel id-direzzjoni li biha jgħaddi t-traffiku minn dik il-belt sabiħa. Min jersaq lejha min-naħa ta’ Birkirkara, jidħol mit-triq li twassal sal-pjazza ewlenija ta’ quddiem il-knisja. B’hekk waqt is-sewqan, qed iħares lejn il-faċċata tal-Knisja.
Illum jidħol f’dawra mill-ġenb tal-borg. Joħroġ mill-Mosta mill-istess triq, b’dahru lejn il-knisja.
Hi proposta eċċellenti. Dejjem sibt stramb l-arranġament attwali, fejn is-sewwieqa jagħtu daharhom lejn il-Knisja, l-aqwa monument tal-post.
Fis-sajf tal-1998, konna qed inlestu diġà arranġamenti bħal dawk li qed jiġu proposti llum. Imma l-kunsill lokali tal-Mosta, immexxi mill-istess maġġoranza bħal-lum, ipprotesta bil-kbir fit-toroq kontra l-bidla.
***
Strateġija għall-Ewropa
L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha għażliet strateġiċi tal-aqwa importanza quddiemha. Kif se tfassal l-iżvilupp tagħha fiż-żmien li ġej, mhux biss quddiem l-isfidi li għadha ma għelbitx – tat-tkabbir ekonmiku kajman u tal-qgħad endemiku – tas-sigurtà quddiem it-terroriżmu – tal-immigrazzjoni – tar-relazzjonijiet mar-Russja u l-Istati Uniti?
Forsi aktar minn hekk, u b’rabta ma dawn l-isfidi: ta’ kif se tissettja l-istrutturi tagħha ta’ tmexxija ħalli jiffunzjonaw tajjeb f’dinja globalizzata; ta’ kif se tegħleb id-diverġenzi li qed jiżdiedu bejn il-partijiet tagħha; ta’ kif se tilqa’ għat-tentazzjoni li qed tinfirex biex jitwarrbu l-prinċipji tal-għaqda billi din tinħall. Fuq kollox ta’ x’jaqbel: aktar Ewropa jew kawtela u konsolidament?
Problema ewlenija hi li fil-varjetà wiesgħa ta’ pajjiżi li llum huma membri tal-Unjoni, diffiċli ssib tweġiba waħda li se tikkonvjeni lil kulħadd.
English Version – The Marsascala economy
When the Jerma hotel was in operation, it wasn’t merely generating business for itself on the back of the accomodation it provided. Its residents were of benefit to the restaurants and entertainment spots of Marsacala and its surroundings. For instance during their winter months of residence, elderly guests at the Djerma would have their noon or evening meals in restaurants nearby.
After the hotel folded, the economy of the entire area was adversely affected and I doubt whether to date, it has recovered.
Over the years, we have been warned that hotel operations, by themselves, are hardly viable. (On this point, I still fail to understand how in a tourist resort like Malta, hotels in stand alone mode still cannot be self financing.)
I would disagree totally with any proposal instead of a hotel on the Jerma site, to erect luxury apartments. We have more than enough of them and they have done enough damage to the country’s profile. If in current circumstances, it is really true that a hotel in Marsacala cannot operate on its own steam, no matter what EU regulations dictate, the government should seek to establish for it operating incentives that would make it viable.
***
Mosta traffic
If I have well understood what the Mosta local council is proposing, they wish to change the directional flow of traffic through that beautiful city. Those approaching it from the B’Kara side, would continue down the street that leads directly to the square surrounding the church. Thus while driving, they would be facing Mosta Dome.
Today, to enter the city one proceeds along its rim, and only drives down the same street when exiting Mosta,
It is an excellent proposal. I always found the existing arrangement bizarre, since it makes drivers give their back to the church, which happens to be the major monument of the the place.
In the summer of 1998, the then Labour administration was finalizing arrangements similar to those that are now being proposed. However the Mosta local council, led by the same majority as now, launched strong public protests against any change.
***
A strategy for Europe
The EU is facing strategic choices of the highest importance. It needs to map out proposals for future developments that go beyond those current challenges which it still has not addressed adequately: low rates of economic growth and persisting high unemployment; an adequate grip on the security situation given the ongoing terrorist threat; immigration; relations with Russia and the US.
Perhaps beyond such issues but tied to them as well, the EU needs to map out: how to reset its management structures in order to be able to function effectively in a globalised environment; how to overcome the increasing divergences between its component parts; how to counter the growing inclination to put aside principles that have guided its unification, so as to indeed reverse the process. Above all to reply to the question: what is the best appproach – more Europe, or caution and consolidation?
A leading problem is that given the wide variety of countries which are now members of the Union, it is going to be difficult to find a position that would suit them all.
Post a comment