Read when the lights go out

The silly season is again with us and there is nothing more exciting than reading a good book, when the lights go off during warm evenings.  Living on a small island requires a sense of humour.  Natives are facing higher summer temperatures with unusual July temperatures of 37 degrees, with a real feel of 40 degrees, while the UV index is at an all time high of 11 almost everyday. Medical authorities tell us no matter where you are, make sure to apply some sunblock and wear a hat to prevent against heat stress. 

Last year’s mid-July climate provided a record-breaking heatwave spiking at 42.7°C recorded on the 24th.  As residents flock to the solace of air-conditioned havens, the electric grids are under immense strain, affecting both electricity generation and its distribution. Summer is packed with festas (traditional village feasts), open-air concerts, and cultural events. These festas often feature colourful fireworks, band marches, and street parties and the occasional lavish champagne parties for selected film lovers as a regular summer treat. The island sees a huge influx of tourists, making popular spots like Valletta, St. Julian’s, and the Blue Lagoon bustling with activity.

Bars, clubs, and restaurants stay open late in Valletta, with many offering outdoor seating to enjoy the warm nights. The omnipresent effect of over-tourism results in both locals and visitors flock to beaches such as Golden Bay, Mellieħa Bay, Balluta bay and Għajn Tuffieħa for swimming, sunbathing, and socialising. The idyllic Isle of MTV youth concert is a bonanza for pop music lovers held regularly for the past years at Floriana granaries.  Quality restaurants in the south of the island serve fresh seafood, light Mediterranean dishes, and refreshing drinks like Kinnie (a local soft drink) are popular, many offer al fresco dining, capitalizing on the pleasant evenings.  In summary, the silly season in Malta is a time of warmth, celebration and social energy, marked by beautiful weather and a festive atmosphere that both locals and tourists eagerly anticipate.

Citizens here, think blackouts do only happen in Nigeria or South Africa.  None more so than knowing how to cope during a major power outage unless many now do have in-house batteries linked to roof mounted PVs.  It is no consolation, that citizens were promised by the energy minister prior to the MEP elections that sufficient new cables were dug in and we need not worry.  It is interesting to reflect how the polis were assured that the state utility has adequate power supply to meet emergencies (including doubling of consumer electric meters installed in new builds by ARMS Ltd.).

 The power regulator was lately facing angry calls during two months of power cuts (some lasting for 35hrs), Enemalta released a statement assuring the country that all investments have been in line with regulations while condemning “propaganda spread by certain individuals”.  It refunds consumers hit by outages. Sympathy messages are being sent to utility engineers and technicians for toiling during hot days to change burnt or defective cables.  A desperate solution was to park container sized diesel generators on main street arteries to feed clinics and households (all hired at breakneck speed costing €80,000 a day). 

This is a third world country type solution used in some backward African or other war-torn countries.  Prime minister Robert Abela shot down the Nationalist Party’s proposed solution for the energy sector to be privatised (similar to the Mozura windfarm, a war-torn owned BWSC plant and the controversial Electrogas).  In his opinion, complete privatization would ultimately lead to higher energy prices.  Time will tell.

Power outages are just something we have to live with in Malta – and that includes deciding how much to stock in a home freezer.  Luckily, every town and village have a grocer or supermarket – logistics being what they are on a small island, we can keep our stocks low. What’s difficult to gauge is sudden power surges, which can really wreck your white goods, electronics et al – but that’s why it is a silly season.

Try enjoying yourself without blaming the power regulator, by stocking up on popcorn, nachos and an ice-cold beer.  Outages can be a frustrating inconvenience, as all appliances at home are subject to unannounced cutting and switching on power.  May I suggest you start reading a good title such as “When the Lights Go Out” by Mary Kubica, a psychological thriller.  Readers get thoroughly involved in the story, savouring the gradually building suspense, trying to wrap up their mind around the countless unanswered questions and deeply moved by the grief and desperation of the two main characters, until, finally that twist happens, the one at the very end, the one that spoils it all.  

Any reader which suddenly suffers the inconvenience of a candle that burns out and has none to replace it; adds to intense frustration. The Chamber of Commerce laments that our horizon is murky - particularly for business leaders facing power cuts, apart from a dire shortage of skilled workers and a challenging profile as an exemplary domicile for multinationals. Again, MHRA are recently voicing that a policy of cheap mass tourism is now at breaking point.  Some popular seaside towns are facing drainage overflows, slime at bays, and there are warning signs for bathers. Weak or little enforcement during summer pump maintenance when government staff clock off at lunchtime may lead to lack of trust and a general feeling of disappointment. 

The country enjoys a healthy economy grade and is regularly assessed by top rating agencies to be financially stable.  Yet, nobody cares that good governance has been openly replaced by blatant State procurement abuses (issue of a tender for a lavish film festival made public after the event occurred).  Maltese politics is trapped as everything is geared toward the next election. Policies are marketed like consumer products.  Dissent is punished so as can be expected, impunity erodes public trust.  Vices have been camouflaged as virtues by exploiting to the hilt the slogan “make hay while the sun shines”. Back to the silly season, candlelight aficionados are facing the pressure of a fast life, not blessed by an aging population, low fertility rate, acute traffic congestions, as thousands of low-wage third country nationals try to eke out a living delivering fast meals on shoddy motor bikes. 

Quo Vadis silly Malta?