Cheap televised stunt

After watching the last edition of Xarabank (October 29) where the Prime Minister was the main guest, I feel compelled to write about the pathetic effort by the Xarabank team to try to demonstrate some shortcomings by the government regarding the proper control and monitoring of our surrounding seas.

Their "experiment" consisted in a boat placing a floating box of some sort (which according to the presenter could have contained drugs, arms etc.) far out at sea. Another boat then proceeded to go to the spot indicated and collected the box. According to the Xarabank team the fact that they were not intercepted or stopped by the forces of order is an indication of shortcomings regarding our internal security.

Are the Xarabank team serious? Have they ever been out at sea? Are they really expecting the armed forces to know about and monitor each of the thousands of pieces of floating rubbish, driftwood, markers for fishing traps, nets etc. that are present in our territorial waters and beyond?

What if the "smugglers" decide to attach the "box" to a length of cord attached to a weight and hold it a foot or so below the surface? Are the armed forces supposed to know about it too?

Are they supposed to pull up each and every marker laid at sea by our fishermen to see whether anything illegal is attached below? Are they supposed to inspect each and every lampuki float every few hours or so to check that nothing has been attached below?

Are they expecting the forces of order to thoroughly search each and every pleasure boat, fishing boat, crew member etc that is re-entering harbour after a few hours or a day at sea?

Xarabank team dream on!

I am more than certain that the police and armed forces do all that is necessary when they have suspicions or tip offs of anything illegal going on out at sea. Of course, there is always more that can be done. However, while there are undoubtedly many policies and shortcomings of the present government that could justly be criticised, it is far-fetched and ridiculous to use such a silly, cheap TV stunt to belittle the efforts made by the government to maintain order and security in our country.