More good news - August 24, 2003

If ever proof were needed that the Maltese are charitable and sport loving, it was the volleyball marathon organised annually by the Kerygma Movement. Last weekend was a bit disheartening as playing the Super Five lottery was suspiciously responsible for a shortfall in contributions. Luckily, however, people soon realised what has by now become their duty.

They remembered to put their hands in their pocket and contribute. Soon money started rolling in and the hopes of the organisers rose again. Hopefully, the total collected will reach that of last year, if not exceed it too.

In spite of the scorching sun, the volleyball players still showed enthusiasm, even when spectators were not so numerous. Then, when the teams were favoured with supporters, they were cheered on to play their hearts out. The players and volunteers have been described as being like a family. Tears and sadness were predicted for the closing day on Thursday. And this was truly so.

Filming world

Things are shaping up in the filming industry. This year Malta has already seen 17 weeks of shooting, according to Lucian Bonello, co-ordinator of the Malta Film Commission.

The most important film shot in Malta in May and June this year was Troy. Stars like Brad Pitt played Achilles and Eric Bona starred as Hector. The interviews on NBC and features in US magazines Hello and OK, provided Malta with welcome publicity as a holiday resort. This apart from the fact that Malta was put on the world map for film making.

There has been a total expenditure by foreign filmmakers of US$26 million from three feature films, a television series, two commercials and a music video. Oliver Stone, one of the most acclaimed filmmakers, has come to Malta to shoot the first scenes in Grand Harbour for his coming epic film. This is the story of Alexander the Great, depicting his conquest of the empire he founded. What is urgently and importantly needed is a full size sound stage. The epic films Gladiator and Troy had to go elsewhere for filming on the sound stage. It would be a wise investment by government and enterprising entrepreneurs to invest in a sound stage.

Community service

I have been advocating in this column, and elsewhere where it matters, the introduction of community service in the criminal justice system. In fact, community service instead of imprisonment was introduced in England as far back as 1972.

It is good news to learn that it has been introduced as an amendment to the criminal code in June. Community service is applied in case of conviction for minor crimes, those, that is, that require a sentence of seven years imprisonment or less. The work connected with community service is certainly not that which makes normal workers redundant. It is work that is left undone or that takes place only rarely with bad effects on the environment.

Community service is awarded with the consent of the criminal. Where it has taken place, it has proved to be popular and much preferred to carceration. The French player Cantona playing in the English Premier League was awarded 200 hours of community service as 'punishment' for his violent reaction to adverse comments from spectators. The service consisted of coaching youngsters in football nurseries. Cantona was so thrilled by this experimental punishment that he continued his coaching beyond the term of the sentence which awarded community service.

The idea of retribution, or worse of revenge of society against the criminal, is alien to modern sociological thought. For let's face facts. What does society gain by punishment or imprisonment? Nothing really. Except vengeful lust for the cruel consequence of crime by imprisonment. Even the term of 'hard labour' as qualification of the sentenced punishment is seriously outdated in the 21st century.

This is the period when psychiatrists and sociologists declare that civilization has progressed towards an excellence of service, and style of life. Imprisonment in fact is against the very interest of the taxpayer. Instead of feeling satisfied that the criminal is being made to pay for his crime, it is the taxpayer himself that is made to pay additionally for the prisoner's upkeep at least on humanitarian surroundings. In any case community service sentencing is only possible with their agreement of the criminal who is found guilty.

Money for bread and butter

The tail end of this feature, unfortunately, has a little bitterness in it. The motive, however, of what has been proposed in the matter of dire need of the tourism industry is positive and constructive. In fact, what has been proposed will be seen in the interest of the nation to a greater degree than that of the tourism industry itself.

The private sector has invested very heavily in the tourism industry. Notwithstanding continuous upgrading in hotels and restaurants, there has been a lacuna that has been felt by the industry itself as a sore thumb. The industry feels that it can only be doctored by the government. Tourism cannot do without an adequate infrastructure. This is truly the home area of the central government.

A serious lament was voiced by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association: "A great deal of lip service is given by various ministers in the government about the importance of the tourism industry due to the number it employs and the amount of wealth generated by tourists."

The state of the product is felt to be seriously threatened. This is mainly the fault of the authority responsible. "The government has been dragging its feet on environmental and basic issues," opined Winston J. Zahra, president of MHRA. Cleanliness and the state of the infrastructure leave very much to be desired. These have been neglected for too long not to be suspicious of the lack of seriousness and the type of action taken in these areas.

As a result, the effect on the visitor is bound to be negative. And critically so. Mr Zahra did not mince his words in his considered opinion. He said: "It is an extremely worrying and frustrating situation, when one looked around the island and saw a state of neglect and tackiness everywhere from the central zone to beaches."

The end of the line is the proverbial killing of the golden goose. Tourism is a competitive business. Other countries have invested very heavily in environment. Admittedly, very effectively too. To such an extent that to compete with the present local scenario means having to resort to rock bottom prices. This certainly does not bode any good to the industry, to the employment situation and to the national economy.