Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/265009
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2014 26 Letters Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. The decision by the Nationalist Party As the leadership race 'among friends' enters the final lap, differences between the main contenders, as expected, are surfacing. The original game plan of the Nationalist Party to have as low a campaign as possible has proved less smooth than hoped for by the party administration. This strategy, born out of the desire to retain perceived party unity at all costs, has removed much of the excitement from the race. The decision not to allow a public debate, based on the premise of lack of differences between the contestants, is proving incorrect and its justification to avoid a media circus shows a lack of appreciation for the role of the media when analysing a party issue with national ramifications. All three contestants have publicly adhered to the fundamental party beliefs and electoral programme, making any talk of ideological differences between them appear 'prima facie' superfluous. There is however, apart from ideology, much that sets all three contestants apart as regards style, attitude and approach. In fact each leader would preside over a different type of government and give his own particular style of administration. Herein lies the key that can decide the race. It is these idiosyn- crasies that will influence the final result. They do differ in crucial respects; a Lawrence Gonzi government would have consensus, team playing and dialogue as the corner stones of its policy making. The government would be perceived to be in a safe pair of hands and continuity of the Fenech Adami administration both in style and policy would be guaranteed. His public statement that 'what you see is what you get' reveals a sincere approach. Fears can be legitimately raised on his credentials to tackle pressing economic and financial issues owing to a rudimentary knowledge of the subject and a natural tendency to appear too soft, indecisive and not in com- mand. A John Dalli government would be highly managerial, decisive and hands on. This government would give top priority to economic issues and would drive the civil service into delivering government's pro- gramme in the shortest of time. Govern- ment employees would be performance- based and all government agencies would be expected to deliver without unnecessary delays and be benchmarked. The culture of accountability would be entrenched. A Louis Galea government would excel in the vision and the big picture of government. Social issues would be on the forefront of government's agenda and minority groups would feel championed. He has a sensitivity and awareness of the rapid changes taking place in our society. A seasoned politician with the deepest roots amongst the councillors. There can be little doubt that the council- lors are faced with a tough decision. They are spoilt for choice. As the party secretary general admitted all three have the neces- sary leadership qualities. In the final analysis the councillors are most likely to decide according to whom they trust most and whom they think most likely to get the job done best in the prevail- ing difficult economic conditions. It is hoped that the councillors are aware of the grave responsibilities they carry at this historic moment. Spoilt for choice EDITORIAL FEBRUARY 22 2004 Best option for residents remains top priority Reference is made to letter by Dr E.A. Mallia entitled 'Naught for your comfort', published in the 16 February edition of this news- paper, which speaks about my comments regarding the proposal of the LNG storage at Marsaxlokk Bay. It should be noted that "further studies" mentioned in the original article refers not only to the risk assessment to limit any unwanted occurrence, but to study the impact of the worst case scenario should such event occurs. The local council assesses the impacts on all proposals with a sense of prioritisation: health and safety be- ing at the top, followed by nuisance (such as from noise pollution) and then visual impact. Thus, mention- ing the visual impact should not be considered as a fallback position should health and safety issues are correctly addressed to, but it is a natural progression in line with this prioritisation. With regards to the technicali- ties mentioned for LNG storage to be outside the harbour, it is well-known even to us that, should this be the case, the re-gasification unit has to be on board as well, just like the FSRU which is 22km outside of Livorno. I have not said the contrary in my interview. With regards to the comments on the use of HFO at the BWSC pending the change to gas, we assess each situation in accordance with the options presented to us at that moment. Before March 2013, the question was whether to run the BWSC on HFO or Gasoil, and in such circumstances our request was for gasoil. Following March 2013, the new government embarked with the gas project, including the conversion of existing plants to gas, and so at this time the issue of HFO versus Gasoil has been superseded by events. Thus, the "best option for residents" is now to switch to gas. And yes, as a local council, we always ask for the "best option for residents". Then it is up to the technical people on the other side to prove what can or cannot be done. Edric Micallef Mayor Marsaxlokk Last Thursday I could not attend the public session with you, since I was abroad, so allow me to put my question to you here. What does it take to get the Parliamentary Secretary respon- sible for MEPA, and a doctor to boot, to react to the alarming news that the grain we are sup- plied with by the Kordin Grain Terminal runs the serious risk of being poisoned by cement dust from an illegal silo? In early September 2013 Flimk- ien ghal Ambjent Ahjar brought to MEPA's attention that a ce- ment Silo was being built without a permit two meters away from Kordin Grain Terminal grain conveyor belt, raising concerns regarding the health risks through contamination of grain by cement. We asked if any enforcement action was being taken. We were told by Alex Borg at MEPA "As of this afternoon, the silo is still be- ing constructed and is definitely not in operation. There is hence nothing more to add from an enforcement perspective." So serious is the risk of the grain being contaminated, that the Environmental Health Directorate ordered both the cement silo owners and the grain importers to prepare risk assess- ments. The first report by Dr Julian Mamo and Dr John Paul Cauchi on behalf of Kordin Grain Termi- nal, shed very grave reservations and concerns on the serious risk to the public, especially children, of poisoning of the grain by even minute amounts of cement. Their conclusions are that it is not an acceptable risk, irrespec- tive of how safe the silo is. The second authored by Dr Cali-Corleo for UC Ltd states in conclusion that, "It is unlikely that this silo operation will be completely free from all fugitive emissions and so the possibil- ity that the grain being handled nearby will be subject to a level of contamination from cement dust remains present even following the application of best practices". After pursuing this illegality for five months, and getting no response, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar submitted to MEPA a formal complaint dated 29 January stating that UC Ltd has built a silo on Laboratory Wharf without the necessary planning permissions and therefore the Enforcement Department is obliged to immediately take steps for direct action. Our complaint and three subse- quent reminders, which included the newer health risk informa- tion, are to-date unacknowledged by the present MEPA CEO, Chairman as well as other MEPA management. Nor did we get a response from you, the Parlia- mentary Secretary. Dr Farrugia we first copied then wrote directly to you in the hope that you, as a doctor, would im- mediately react to such alarming health risks, but disappointingly other than supporting MEPA's enforcement and management's lack of responsibility and "direct- ing us" to investigate, we have received neither a satisfactory answer nor direct action. Antonio Anastasi Manager Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar An open letter to Michael Farrugia The dangers of the state 'blessing' same- sex unions Recent statistics show that in Malta, HIV infections are on the increase. Years back, the US top medical officer released 99% of a commissioned report on the spread of HIV and the resultant AIDS. What was in the 1% of the report considered so alarming to the general public that it was not published? Following the publication of this report, more care was advised when contact with blood was a possibility. The scandal of infected blood bags in France and other occurrences point to the perfidious nature of this contagious and deadly virus. Even when court cases hit the news, those who knowingly engage in inti- mate relations with multiple partners when they are aware of their own infection get a heftier sentence for they would be expos- ing their partners to the disease, aside from intentionally misleading them. I am not a medical man, just a taxpayer, but I have heard tell that it is costly and time-consuming to screen blood donations from all contaminants, which is why a doc- tor interviews the prospective blood donor. I would think that the provisions in place banning high-risk groups from donating blood to the general population should be kept. I am disappointed that few in both parties and the Church are speaking out on the negative effects of the proposed 'state bless- ing' of same-sex unions. Likewise the proposed law giving the same rights to intimate relations between same gender persons should not be rushed through but given a sufficiently long con- sultation period when practises which carry a high risk are going to be given official sanction. I think it should become a breach of the law to refuse to take a blood dona- tion from this high-risk community and not label it differently from blood taken from monogamous, less risk-prone donors. S. Debono Hal Kirkop