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Can the Dockyard say
‘no’ to Lm2.5 million?
The past few weeks have been extremely good for Malta Drydocks.
New orders are starting to come in, giving management a bit
of breathing space and giving the workers something to look
forward to. This is welcome news indeed.
More welcome, however, is the news that the United States Navy
– arguably the largest in the world – has given Malta
Drydocks a contract for work on the US Navy command ship La
Salle worth $6 million, around Lm2.5 million. This is the first
time that work on a US Navy ship is being done at the Dockyard,
at least since 1979 when interpretation of the non-aligned and
neutrality clauses in the Constitution meant that such works
could not be carried out – even at a loss of million of
liri in contracts.
Nearly two decades have passed since then and more than 12 years
since the end of the Cold War, yet it seems that the Opposition
– in particular deputy leader George Vella – is still
living in a time when superpowers were the order of the day
and relations between nations were frayed at the best of times.
Times have changed. We now think global. The superpowers are
no longer. Even relations between the US and long-time foe China
have improved. However, Mr Vella scathingly attacked the deal,
saying that it violates the Constitution. “I believe the
contract goes against the spirit and the letter of the Constitution,”
Dr Vella told a local newspaper. Mr Vella’s insistence
is based on article 1 (3) (e) of the Constitution which ends
with the words: “shipyards will be denied to the military
vessels of the two superpowers”.
Before 1988, Mr Vella would have been correct and lauded for
pointing this fact out, but not today. The whole concept of
a “superpower” lost any relevance at the end of the
Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union made sure of that.
While the US and Russia are still major players in the world,
the word superpower certainly does not apply. Is Mr Vella basing
his convictions on the fact that they are nuclear powers? If
so, then the Drydocks can say goodbye to any deals originating
from China, India or Pakistan.
On one issue, to a certain extent, Mr Vella has a point. He
said “if the government believes that the Constitution
should be changed it should have brought up the issue for debate.”
We agree, Mr Vella, however, would it not have been more commendable
if the Opposition had suggested to Parliament that this part
of the Constitution needed revising?
An even more important factor in this equation is the money
that will be pumped into the Drydocks’ coffers. Everybody
knows that the docks are running at a loss. Any help counts
and Lm2.5 million is not a sum that can be refused. Even if
the contract is in violation of the Constitution – and
we believe otherwise – then the Constitution should be
changed. This country is blessed with natural docks and a skilled
workforce. After years of criticism and lack of work, Malta
Drydocks is making a turnaround.
That the US Navy has seen fit to repair its command ship over
here should encourage management and the government to do its
utmost to get more work. An order from the Navy is certainly
more lucrative than an order from Iran or any other country.
Change the Constitution if need be but, in the national interest,
don’t shun the US Navy. Saying no to Lm2.5 million would
literally be “looking a gift horse in the mouth”.
Harsh words, Mr Farrugia
The secretary-general of the Association of General Retailers
and Traders, Vince Farrugia, made a very serious accusation
during the programme Xarabank last Friday on national television.
While Mr Farrugia is free to express his opinion on any subject,
he had no right to say that members of the Press were “paid”
by Bay Street without having any proof. In effect, Mr Farrugia
said that journalists were on the company’s payroll and
told what to write.
While this statement is totally untrue, it is also unbecoming
of a person who deals directly with the Press on a daily basis.
Mr Farrugia, of all people, knows how much the Press supported
his association on a number of issues, in particular the regulations
regarding the opening of bars and nightclubs.
The Malta Press Club on Tuesday issued a statement to this effect.
An apology from Mr Farrugia would not be amiss.
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