Maltese politicians have no balls. Rather the few balls that might have existed in the political milieu seem to be held firmly in the grasp of the construction industry. As we all know “quis testiculos habet, habeat cardeam et cerebellum” (he who holds the balls, controls the heart and mind). This is no news really.
Much before the Labour Taghna Lkoll movement openly went to bed with the Malta Development Association fronted by Mr. Sympathy Sandro Chetcuti it was no secret that for a political party to be successful it had to be supported economically by the construction industry. No money meant no party. From the early eighties to this day this was the main mantra. At its heyday in power the nationalist party and its secretary Joe Saliba had the infamous JS list of benefactors. On the eve of the last election rumours were rife of dealings at a mysterious floor of Labour HQ linked to promises and deals with businessmen.
The sadder news for Malta is that of all industries to control the agenda for political parties we are lumped with a most unscrupulous counter-intuitive one. Yes, counter-intuitive, because on a tiny island that is but a spit in the Mediterranean where real estate comes at a premium, the main result of the most successful lobby on the island is a constant need of construction and space for construction.
Yes, it is a heritage of the nationalist party days when indiscriminate, unplanned construction was encouraged. So you suddenly have an industry that feeds on the need to build, build, build. It is barely regulated whether you look at it from a health and safety perspective or from an environmental/urban planning perspective. The secret formula is Got Money, Then Build. The seafront from Paceville to Valletta, the Bugibba front, and a myriad atrocities pock marking the scarce surface of the area are a witness to this. Have we forgotten the latest plans before Zonqor and Qala exploded into the scene? Do we forget that there is a beach planned to be built just opposite Manoel Island? Right there where even ducks might not dare to swim.
It is a vicious circle that can only be explained by analogy. Imagine that a magnate arrives in Malta with the grand idea of setting up a monopoly in the Chimney industry. What? I hear you ask, there are no chimneys in Malta. Exactly. It’s a monopoly in the waiting. I’m surprised no one thought of it yet. Pre-election he sets up a couple of meeting with some Joes from the party that seems to be about to get into power and promises are made – possibly even money is donated (remember Sandro Chetcuti and his “I donate to everyone” statements?
Once his chosen party is in government the plan begins. A new law is introduced obliging every household to have at least one fireplace with a chimney exit. Some penny-a-paper professor is commissioned to produce a report explaining how energy efficient it all is and before you can say “Legal Notice” the law has shot through parliament. The industry is ready and set up. Chimney installers, chimney maintainers and chimney repairers. The PM is beaming with this great plan that brings “many new jobs” to the island and also helps the poor people who have had such energy inefficient household before.
One minute Malta needed no chimneys. The next, because businessmen and polticians said so Malta becomes a chimney state. Far-fetched? Think again. Ask yourself why the tiny spit in the Mediterranean with a tiny surface area has such an important and burgeoning construction industry.
You have the developers and politicians to thank.
