Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1432934
icant cost, through seawater desalination alone. With, of course, a few crucial differences: One: it must be pointed out that at least some of those 29.3 million cubic metres would have ended up in isolated cis- terns or reservoirs; and there was probably a lot more that seeped into the water table the old-fashioned way: i.e., through absorption by soil. But because so much of that permeable surface has been replaced, in recent years, with purpose-built 'water run-off surfaces' – roads, pavements, rooftops, patios, etc; all built on what were once fields – that quantity is already a far cry from what it was 20 (or even 10) years ago… and is only ever likely to decrease, over time; Two: even with the latest, most advanced water-capture technology known to Man- kind… it would still be unre- alistic to harvest more than a small fraction of the total vol- ume. (But the answer to this one is simple: if you don't make any effort at all to harvest even a single drop… you know, a priori, that the precise quantity of water you will end up with – in cubic metres – will be 'ze- ro'). Three: regardless how much more efficient our RO plants have become, they still guzzle large quantities of electricity. Once again, it fell to Dr Crem- ona to do the actual math: but according to his estimates, it would have required roughly 82 million units of electricity – at the aforementioned 2.8 kilo- watt hour rate – to produce the same amount of water (2.9 mil- lion cubic metres) that poured onto the Maltese islands last Thursday. Exactly how much that would actually boil down to, in terms of 'euros and centimes'… I have no idea; nor do I even think it's particularly impor- tant. Whatever the cost, it still translates into a large chunk of Malta's power-generation capability diverted entirely to- wards water-production – at a time when we all know that it is precisely 'energy generation' (through fossil fuels, too) that causes Climate Change to be- gin with… … and when we evidently can't even handle the sheer amount of precious rainwater being literally thrown down at us, from the Heavens above, for absolutely free. Hmm. I'm beginning to have second thoughts about all those 'prayer meetings', you know. Maybe we do need to be wiped out by a single, cata- clysmic Biblical deluge after all. Maybe it would be preferable to watching ourselves slowly drop dead of dehydration – just like the crew of the Ancient Mar- iner's 'ghost ship' – while all along surrounded by "water, water everywhere"… IT is important that government provides services in the most efficient manner and an approach that has paid off is the set- ting up of agencies with a distinct remit. One of these success stories is Aġenzija Komunità Malta. It is responsible for ad- ministering all Maltese citizenship-related matters. This includes accepting and process- ing applications for the acquisition of Maltese citizenship by birth, by regis- tration, by naturalisation through long term residence, for exceptional services by merit, and for exceptional services by direct investment in Malta. It has a duty to carry out its work with due dil- igence but is committed to eradicating unnecessary red tape and making good use of digi- tal technology to speed up process- es. The Agency has a new Chief Exec- utive Officer, Jo- seph Mizzi, who has considerable experience work- ing in the Public Service. His career in citizenship and immigration began in the early 1990s. When Malta joined the European Un- ion he was direct- ly involved in the implementation of directives and pro- cesses concerning legal migration. He has been respon- sible for policies related to visas and has provided his wisdom on amendments concerning cit- izenship law. I have no doubt Mr Mizzi will perform strongly in his new role. The Agency is in a safe pair of hands. One of the roles of Aġenzija Komunità Malta is overseeing the residency regula- tions that may lead to citizenship, the fol- low-on initiative from the Individual Inves- tor Programme (IIP). These residents make a contribution to Malta of up to €750,000 plus additional sums for dependents. Ex- tensive checks are carried out on appli- cants, involving police and international anti-crime bodies, to guard against crimi- nality such as money laundering. The European Union welcomes about two thirds of a million new citizens each year, most of whom experience few checks. By contrast, Malta's initiative is capped at 400 applicants a year, all of whom are sub- ject to the toughest due diligence. The investment generated from this initiative has been of huge benefit to the country. The old IIP raised €1.7 billion. The results can be seen everywhere, in the way funds have been administered by the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF). €60 million is being spent on social hous- ing, giving families accommodation in brand new and rejuvenated blocks. Mater Dei gained an investment of nearly €1m to upgrade its two catheterisation suites, and another €1.5 mil- lion are directed to- wards the purchase of a CT Scanner at St Vincent De Paule Hospital. Around €10m is being pumped into health centres and €5m was allocated to Puttinu Cares to purchase a new property in central London to benefit the families of pa- tients being treated there. An invest- ment of €8 million into a new state of the art palliative centre administered by Hospice Malta. In preparation of Maltese athletes for the 2023 Games for Small European States, NDSF has also invested €5 million towards this aim. The list goes on with €1.5 million for Caritas, a further €1.5 million invested in artistic heritage and €4.5 million for the new urban spaces that will act as green lungs in built-up localities. Somebody moving into a smart modern flat or getting better health care wouldn't necessarily make the link between the investment of new citizens and their im- proved personal experience, but it is reas- suring to know that the wheels of govern- ment are turning unhindered. Aġenzija Komunità Malta is doing its work quietly without fanfare but we are all the better off for what it achieves. 11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 NOVEMBER 2021 OPINION An agency that invests in the community The old IIP raised €1.7 billion. The results can be seen everywhere, in the way funds have been administered by the National Development and Social Fund Alex Muscat Alex Muscat is Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Community