Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/624751
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 10 JANUARY 2016 26 Letters News • 8 January 2006 THE Minister for Family and Social Solidar- ity, Dolores Cristina has told MaltaToday she will be stepping up laws to protect mi- nors from alcohol abuse by raising the age of consent for the consumption of alcohol to 18 years of age from 16. In the aftermath of the Christmas and New Year's Eve parties which attracted thousands last week, Cristina also said that such events where alcohol is freely available should be subjected to strict regulation. "Frankly, I believe that the 'open bar' policy should be prohibited," the minister said. Concerns on excessive drinking amongst young people will be reaching the govern- ment Cabinet as Cristina prepares to table a draft law to increase the protection of mi- nors. "No one is talking prohibition but simply an ongoing education campaign aimed at differ- ent sectors of the population, but primarily at the younger generation." The minister said the national agency against drug abuse Sedqa had been for a long time lobbying to make the sale of alcohol and serving to minors, as well alcohol consump- tion by minors under 18 illegal. "As is, the law is ineffective in protecting minors. The policy drawn up by Sedqa years ago advocates making sales and serving to minors illegal. I shall be presenting this pro- posal to Cabinet in the weeks to come. I have no doubt that it will be the source of extensive discussion." Cristina said that "constant, consistent and aggressive campaigns" against the excessive intake of alcohol needed to be stepped up in schools and on the media. The minister said excessive drinking any time of the year should be "a matter of major concern for all of us." She said binge drinking, as proven by ES- PAD surveys, reveal that under-16s were indulging in binge drinking during the week- ends. "I have no doubt that this is not con- fined to younger age groups." The minister also said that those who run bars and sell alcohol should do so in con- formity with the law because of the need to avoid unwise consumption of alcohol. "While it is true that self-regulation is the best protection, we must understand that there are members of society who should be afforded protection by law. Our official anti- abuse structures also advocate the random application of the breathalyser test as a deter- rent." Family minister to increase age of consent on alcohol Tribute to Sunny Borg: A mighty oak has fallen Preventing more fatal accidents 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. Stand tall oh mighty oak, for all the world to see/ Your strength and undying beauty forever amazes me. When the winds are high and restless and/ you lose a limb or two/ it only makes you stronger, we/ could learn so much from you. Though generations have come and gone/ and brought about such change/ quietly you've watched them all yet still/ remained the same. I only pray God give to me the strength he's/ given you/ to face each day with hope, whether/ skies are black or blue. It was these stanzas from the poem Mighty Oak, by the Ameri- can writer Kathy Parenteau, that came to mind when early on New Year's Day I received the message that Sunny Borg, founder and driving force behind the success of Bortex, had passed away. His health had been failing for some time, but nonetheless, the news shocked and grieved me. I saw Mr Borg as that oak tree. Through thick and thin he was always so strong and steadfast, innovative and motivating. He taught us so much about life, especially respect and humility. I had the honour and privilege to work for him and learning from him for more than 30 years. No matter the challenges or up- heavals which befell the company, he was always there to guide and motivate through his foresight and acumen the management team to overcome setbacks or to plan the expansion of the group. To him setbacks offered new opportunities for the group to evolve, to seek new pastures and grow further. Several were those instances where in the long run he was proven right, and the group flourished further after setbacks and changes caused by the vicissitudes of the market or circumstances which were be- yond the management's control. Mr Borg taught us that first and foremost the fortunes of the group depended not just simply on the forward planning and market drives of its top echelons, but largely on the diligence and loyalty of the people on the shop floor. As ultimately it was the efforts and hard work of the op- erators which rendered products of high quality and on time as expected by our overseas and do- mestic clients. The interest of the operators and their families was always topmost on his mind, es- pecially in adverse circumstances. When the group had been forced late in the seventies to reduce its working week the workers were still paid their full wages; and when the group had to downscale its operation in Malta because of competitive forces the redundan- cies were staggered smoothly to cause the least inconvenience to the employees. Mr Borg showed resilience when in mid-life his health was impaired by a stroke. Lesser men would have bowed out, but he chose to battle on, to lead and impart advice, remaining sharp as ever in his financial analysis and comments. Undaunted by the odds he travelled often abroad on his own. Humility was another virtue of Mr Borg. Despite his wealth, he always kept his feet to the ground without flaunting his riches, treating everyone respectfully. I remember vividly the day in an interview for the company's in- house journal when he explained that his ethos was very much influenced by his background and the hardships he had to suffer to become an accomplished entre- preneur. Indeed, until his last days Mr Borg "watched them all yet still remained the same." Deepest condolences to Peter and Karen and their families and to all the Bortex staff and employees. Joe Cachia San Gwann The new year began with a spate of traffic accidents, at least two of which were fatal. Playing the blame game, which seems to be a favourite pas- time of many a Facebook user, achieves nothing. There are a number of reali- ties we must accept and work around if more avoidable accidents are to be prevented. The first is that our island is small and its road network was created more through an ad hoc series of decisions than a coherent plan. Roads are narrow, often in poor condi- tion, and cannot handle the huge volume of traffic they are forced to accommodate. The second is that the Maltese are, collectively, in a loving committed relationship with their cars. Public trans- port has let us down time and again, cycling any where takes guts and riding a motorcycle is equally if not more danger- ous. Walking, for one of the fattest nations on earth, is not an option. So what can we do? The gov- ernment's consistent failure in traffic management and road construction (see: the Coast Road, underwater months after completion) is discourag- ing. Regulation is the way to go. If people refuse to use other modes of transport, it is time to regulate the life out of car use. Strict enforcement of road rules (including the heftiest fines possible for using those dratted mobile phones) and the introduction of a points system might help drivers be- have better if they risk losing the privilege of driving their precious gas guzzlers. Incentivise the use of bicycles and motorcycles – make it eas- ier to get them, use them and park them – for the minority who choose two wheels over four. Maybe some day this tiny island will finally realise that bigger is not always better. Alan Mifsud Balzan