If this government had a rogue scriptwriter, out to damage the government's reputation, he could do no worse than the government itself has done – sending the trio Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri to far-away Singapore for the launch of the LNG vessel that will fuel the gas power station at Delimara.
The news of this trip has served to reawaken the Panama Papers issue in people's minds.
Whatever has happened in the meantime - Konrad Mizzi being deprived of his proper ministry- does not seem to have affected the relations between the three. They are still three very close friends. Now this is precisely what the government cannot afford to have for the Panama Papers debacle has highlighted not just these close relations but also links that two of them (that we know) have with companies in Panama and in New Zealand. And all the rest that was uncovered in the past months.
Any two-penny image consultant would have warned the government this is precisely what must not be re-awakened in people's consciousness. Yet this is precisely what they have done.
And this media event re-focused attention on energy provision, which is the subject matter of Konrad Mizzi's former ministry which he was supposed to have moved out of, only now to be seen in full glaring light, in the forefront of public attention.
The event also focused attention on the LNG tanker, which is now on its long journey from Singapore to Malta. It brings to mind the dangers that, true or not, have insinuated their way into many Maltese minds connected with the proximity of such a tanker and its cargo to the residential areas of Marsaxlokk and beyond.
And, as luck would have it, the only fireworks accident we have had so far this season took place at Marsaxlokk last Sunday. This was accompanied by warnings that fireworks must be kept well away from the tanker in future.
The danger in this case is real, far more real than the 'cancer factory' the Labour Opposition had warned about before the election only for them to continue using the BWSC plant till this very day.
Finally, the cherry on the cake, why three important persons for this rather mundane event – the setting off of the LNG tanker on its way from Singapore to Malta. Normally such voyages are made without all this media razzmatazz.
And only friendly media at that – a DOI photographer and the news editor at TVM who alone seems to be present at some very exclusive government appointments.
The conclusion is two-fold: either the government knows next to nothing about public relations or else it could not be bothered because it feels safe with its huge parliamentary majority.
Whatever happened to the idea of Cabinet collective responsibility, here we have a kitchen Cabinet at the very core of government, with all the rest, ministers, parliamentary secretaries and backbenchers relegated to the sidelines. And seemingly accepting it.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2aHRJwI
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