Common sense prevails

And the good news is: work on the US navy ship La Salle will be carried out after all. The powers-that-be in South Street, Valletta last Saturday came to an agreement that in the interest of what is good for the nation, the contract on the La Salle should be honoured. Even faced with defeat, the General Workers’ Union managed to find another excuse to spare itself a few blushes: they still believe the contract goes against the Constitution but, since the contract has already been signed and in the country’s interests, the union felt that work should go ahead as planned.
First of all, the Union’s national council should be commended for allowing common sense to prevail. After all, even Mr Zarb and his fellow union leaders realise that nearly $8 million is not a sum of money you flush down the drain.
Unfortunately, it took a harsh warning from the Prime Minister on Thursday night to put some sense into the Union’s head. And no, the Prime Minister did not blackmail anyone neither did he use political pressures to force the GWU to accept and instruct its members at the Drydocks to carry out the job. All the Prime Minister did last Thursday was to show that the government pulls the strings and no one else. The unions have a right and must defend the interests of their members but they have no right to interfere or tell the government how to go about its business.
Last Thursday, the Prime Minister voiced the concerns of 98 per cent of the Maltese workforce who are fed up paying taxes to support a workforce that believes it can twist the government’s arm whenever it likes – naturally with the support of the Union’s leaders. The PM’s ultimatum could have easily come out of the GWU’s Issa Daqshekk campaign textbook. The only difference is that the PM’s Issa Daqshekk warning had an immediate effect.
All that now remains to be done is to ensure that all those working on the La Salle are afforded all the help possible. The Drydocks should give the workers and the Union guarantees that any work will be carried out safely. On the other hand, the workers should cooperate with their client and work to the best of their ability – an ability that has never been questioned.
Finally, it is up to the leader of the Opposition, Dr Alfred Sant, to put aside his hard-line stand and argue constructively with the government through serious debate in Parliament.
We augur that the Drydocks will not only have more US navy contracts but that the local yard will carry out work on Russian, Chinese and any naval vessel for that matter.

Government shows maturity and will power

The feeling among the public following the Prime Minister’s address to the country was one of admiration and thanks. Finally, Dr Fenech Adami and his government had taken a stand. The situation last week called for firm action from the government and the country’s leader.
Many described the PM’s ultimatum on Thursday as the best thing the government had done in the past two years. Hopefully, it won’t be the last thing it will have done come the next election. People on both sides of the political spectrum praised – to varying degrees – Dr Fenech Adami’s stand. He showed that his government did not take rash decisions but only took action when it had to. This is what this country needs – that tough decisions are taken if all else fails.
In a political climate, one cannot let emotions or public fervour take over. A mature and sage government must realise when and how it should take action – just as the Prime Minister did on TV. Dr Fenech Adami and his government have shown maturity and the will power to act if, and when, necessary to safeguard the country’s interests.
That, in our opinion, is a sign of true leadership.