Every six months or so during the last 30 odd years, the public has received “news flashes” from government regarding the Malta Drydocks. The news is always of one of two types. Either a euphoric statement is made claiming that the Drydocks are an indispensable national asset and are only weeks away from a spectacular business turnaround, or the news consists simply of a ministerial ultimatum threatening imminent closure if the employees don’t get their act together. The pathetic political pantomime, played very poorly by both Nationalists and Labour over the years, is such a political cliché that many of us have simply lost interest in the enterprise. The only thing many of us are interested to know is when the financial hemorrhage (Lm300 million and growing) will stop. The proverbial buck will stop, very soon. After 2008, the ability of this (or any other) government to continue subsidising the operational losses of the Drydocks will be significantly curtailed. Now I am not one of those who couldn’t give a toss whether the Drydocks survive or not. I do not cheer when people’s livelihoods are threatened. Nobody should. On a practical level, I would not bother if the losses of the Drydocks were a few hundred thousand liri a year; however they are not a few hundred thousand, but millions. As a tax-paying citizen I am very angry that despite the dozens of restructuring programs over the years, the Drydocks dug another hole of almost Lm10 million during 2006. As one great supporter of the Drydocks is fond of saying (in Maltese), “Now we have had enough!” There are other (and better) things that government should be doing with our taxes. However the solution to the problem is not to kick every one out and throw away the key. The solution is to deal with the problem courageously and definitively. If there is no future for the Drydocks in their present set-up, then government should take action now, before we sink another Lm10 million. If this is the case, what are the Greens suggesting? It is imperative that government establishes what the future of this company and its employees is. It is obvious that bold decisions must be taken. The Greens are ready to be supportive of change. However we insist that as a first measure Minister Gatt takes political responsibility for the failure of the restructuring. He must stop this cowardly behaviour of taking credit for successes like SmartCity but blaming failures (like the Drydocks) on others. If the restructuring plans for the Drydocks have failed then Austin Gatt should admit it. It would, in many ways, not be news. The senior members of management, responsible for designing the latest (failed) restructuring exercise must take responsibility for the commercial failure and tender their resignation. In a private enterprise that is what would be expected. Secondly the Prime Minister should have the courage to seriously consider the recommendations made in the Appledore report of 1997. This report suggested that part of the Drydocks can be restructured into a commercial entity building solar panels. This should be done in the form of a public-private partnership, with government providing the capital and infrastructure and the private sector. contributing management and marketing expertise. This can serve to retain key skills as well as to help families save money on electricity. Our contribution to combating climate change would, with just this initiative, be serious and substantial. This initiative will give the employees of the Drydocks the chance to give back something to this country. Thirdly, government must ensure continuity in the provision of certain indispensable industrial services that the Drydocks provides to manufacturing businesses. Ideally this should be done through a separate business entity that retains a core group of highly skilled Drydocks employees. The services of this entity should be sold commercially, and any subsidy that may be needed should be kept to a minimum and paid out of the funds of Malta Enterprise. Fourthly, government should consider the privatisation of any line(s) of the Drydocks’ business that may be profitable, and commit the private enterprise taking on this line(s) to retain as many Drydocks employees as is commercially viable. All other employees who are not retained should be given one year’s notice.  The site of the Drydocks should be carefully developed to create quality tourism in the South of Malta. This development must not be of a speculative nature, but must be intended to create alternative employment in the South. I am however not hopeful that this government or the next will deal with the Drydocks in a manner that is commercially realistic and politically courageous. What is likely to happen (obviously after the election) is for the new government to close down the place or downsize it to a trifle of its present size. There just isn’t the courage to deal with the problem now and reap as much as possible from an enterprise that has cost this country more than Lm 300 million. A gigantic write-off and no lesson learned.   Edward Fenech is spokesperson for finance, the economy and tourism for Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party