Those who thought that the Soviet-era queues were over in Malta had to think again, after thousands of people queued up yesterday to subscribe to Blueskies: the subsidised broadband Internet scheme offered by government for just €3 a month – but only for a year.
The event was transformed into a rehearsal for the Nationalist Government’s electoral campaign, with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi shaking hands with the crowd that lined up the upper half of Merchants’ Street and Old Bakery Street in Valletta.
The crowd was made up mostly of elderly people, students, mothers and – according to the IT Ministry’s press release – “vulnerable people”.
When Gonzi arrived on site, he was welcomed by IT Minister Austin Gatt and the two made their way to the makeshift tent with a posse of photographers, cameramen and journalists in hot pursuit.
It was clear that the event was being stage-managed for the cameras: as soon as Gonzi stood before the crowd, somebody shouted to the NET News cameramen to tell the Prime Minister to turn his back to the people and face the press.
Gonzi’s speech was dotted with references to the past legislature and the PN’s achievements during it… and the word “change” reverberated throughout, possibly as an antidote to Labour propaganda.
“This initiative confirms the plan that we had since the beginning of this legislature till the end of this legislature. During the past five years, this PN-led Government has been a catalyst for change in the country which is bringing this technology close to the people.
“Our policy was and still is to change everything we need to change so that our country becomes one of the best in the European Union and in the Mediterranean.
“This is an initiative that will really bring another change. It is of my utmost satisfaction that at the end of this legislature, we are being for another time the catalysts of a huge change for our country,” Gonzi said to the applause of the people at the front of the crowd.
Initially, the Bluskies scheme was limited to the first 5,000 people to apply for the scheme on a first-come first-served basis, irrespective of their income.
However asked by MaltaToday whether this was going to disadvantage those people who are really in need, Gonzi replied: “For the grace of God, our country’s economy in moving forward in such a strong manner that the Government is ready to consider that the limit of 5,000 subscriptions is increased to a much bigger number. Hux hekk, Aust?”, the Prime Minster said as he turned in the direction of Gatt, who nodded back in coyish approval.
A Ministry statement issued in the afternoon said that more than 4,000 people had applied for the BlueSkies initiative yesterday.
All seven ISPs catering for the local domestic market in Malta have joined this initiative after months of tough discussions with Ministry officials.

czahra@mediatoday.com.mt