Il-mod kif jitmexxew l-ekonomiji sar jiddependi ħafna mit-tbassir li jsir ta’ kif se jkunu qed jiżviluppaw l-affarijiet, lejn tkabbir akbar jew anqas. Dan it-tbassir – anke jekk meta jkun f’idejn aġenziji serji jitwettaq skont l-aktar kriterji xjentifiċi sodi – ma jistax jittieħed dejjem bħala xi Vanġelu. U għalhekk issib li fl-istess mument, jista’ jsir tbassir differenti dwar kif se tiċċaqlaq ekonomija.

Rajna dil-ħaġa tiġri dan l-aħħar meta l-Ministru tal-Finanzi Malti, Edward Scicluna, bassar li l-ekonomija Maltija se tikber b’rata aqwa minn dik imsemmija mill-aġenzija finanzjarja ta’ Fitch.

U qed tqum ukoll fil-battibekki bejn gvernijiet Ewropej bħal per eżempju tal-Portugall , tal-Italja u ta’ Franza mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea dwar il-baġits kurrenti tagħhom fil-qafas tar-regoli taż-żona tal-ewro dwar deficits publiċi. Il-gvernijiet ibbażaw il-proġetti tagħhom fuq tbassir ekonomiku mod, il-Kummissjoni mod ieħor. Aktar mal-ekonomija tikber, iżgħar se jidher id-defiċit imqabbel magħha.

It-tbassir ekonomiku differenti ma jirriżultax dejjem minn apprezzamenti li jvarjaw minn xulxin għal raġunijiet xjentifiċi. Għalhekk anki l-apprezzamenti jridu jiġu analizzati b’mod kritiku.

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ODZ “verġni”

Rajt fil-midja ritratt panoramiku taż-żona f’Ta’ Ċenċ fejn qed jiġi diskuss żvilupp ta’ vilel ġodda mill-awtoritajiet tal-ippjanar. Bħala naħa dikjarata ODZ, naturalment hemm reżistenza kbira għal din il-proposta. Ta’ Ċenċ qed jitqies bħala żona li għandha tiġi salvagwardjata minn kull żvilupp, tant li r-ritratt publikat mill-ġurnal kellu t-titolu “Art Verġni”.

Biss meta ħarist mill-qrib lejn ir-ritratt sibt li kien hemm fiż-żona murija, aktar minn tnax-il binja, kollha b’pixxina kbira li tidher sew. Ftit jagħtu xhieda ta’ art “verġni”.

Il-mistoqsijiet iqumu: Liema interessi jitħarsu jekk ma jsirx aktar żvilupp f’Ta’ Ċenċ? Tal-art u tal-ambjent? Jew ta’ dawk is-sidien li diġà bnew hemm?

Liema mistoqsijiet m’għandhomx jitqiesu la bħala argument favur u lanqas kontra l-iżvilupp ġdid propost.

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Cervantes u Shakespeare

Shakespeare u Cervantes mietu fl-istess sena, l-1616.

Kif jixraq, l-Ingliżi jinsabu għaddejja b’kommemorazzjoni grandjuża tal-aqwa poeta u drammaturgu tagħhom. Involva ruħu fiha saħanistra l-Prim Ministru Ingliż Cameron. Sew għamel.

Għalkemm tħejja abbozz ta’ programm biex jikkommemora lil Cervantes, dan ġie kritikat bħala inadekwat u li waqa’ lura. Peress li wara l-elezzjoni ġenerali ta’ Diċembru, Spanja spiċċat mingħajr gvern effettiv, l-Ispanjoli ma setgħux isegwu l-istrateġija ta’ Cameron biex jagħtu ġieħ lill-aqwa kittieb tal-ilsien Spanjol. Proposta li jidħol ir-Re biex imexxi l-inizjattiva mietet fuq ommha.

Mhux ta’ b’xejn li qed iqumu protesti dwar dak li qed jiġri.

Cervantes jixraqlu trattament ħafna aħjar.

English Version – Economic Forecasts

Economic management has come to depend a lot on forecasts being made regarding how developments are shaping towards greater or lesser growth. Such forecasts, even if carried out under the strictest scientific criteria by dependable agencies, cannot always be taken as Gospel truth. Which is why you’ll discover that there could simultaneously be published different scenarios about how a given economy will move.

We could see this happen recently when Maltese finance minister Edward Scicluna forecasted that the Maltese economy would be performing more strongly than at the rate benchmarked for it by the financial agency Fitch.

The point was also highlighted when discussions took place recently between European governments such as those of Portugal, Italy and France, and the European Commission, regarding their current budgets in the context of eurozone rules covering public deficits. The governments had been building their projections on certain economic forecasts, the Commission on others. The greater economic growth, the less will deficits turn out to be as a percentage of the economy.

Contrasting economic forecasts do not always result from assessments that vary for scientific reasons.

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“Vergin” ODZ land

I saw in the print media a panoramic shot of the Ta’ Ċenċ neighbourhood where the planning authorities are reviewing a proposal for the development of new villas. Concerning as it does, an ODZ defined area, naturally the proposal has been widely opposed. Ta’ Ċenċ is considered a location which must be safeguarded against all development, so much so that the picture published by the paper carried the title “Vergin Land”.

However, a closer look at the photo reveals that in the area displayed, there are at least twelve significant buildings all with their own big and prominent swimming pool. They hardly demonstrate that one is looking at “vergin” territory.

So questions arise: Which interests would best be satisfied if no development takes place at Ta’ Ċenċ? Those of landscape and environment? Or those of owners who already have dwellings there?

Such questions should not be taken as an argument for or against the said development that is being proposed.

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Cervantes & Shakespeare

Shakespeare and Cervantes died in the same year, 1616.

In Britain, a grandiose commemoration is being organised of the country’s supreme poet and dramatist. Prime Minister David Cameron has rightly participated in it.

A commemorative programme has been drafted for Cervantes, but it is being criticised as inadequate, as well as because it has been left to drag behind schedule. Since last December’s general election, Spain has effectively lacked a functioning government. So, the country could hardly follow Cameron’s strategy in order to honour the most important writer of the Spanish language. There was a proposal for the Spanish King to spearhead such an initiative but it led nowhere.

One can understand why people have now begun to protest at the situation.

Cervantes certainly deserves much better.

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