Quality of life, until the lights go out
Reliable infrastructure, not political slogans, is the true measure of quality of life
On the night of July 20, it was finally our turn. At around 10pm, the electricity went out. By 9.30 the following morning, as this article was being written, it had still not returned.
Nearly 12 hours without power, in the middle of a Maltese summer. No air-conditioning. No fans. No rest. Another sleepless night in the hope that one of the most basic public services will soon be restored. However, we keep hearing that the quality of life in Malta is getting better. But at what cost?
Sadly, this is not a one-off occurrence anymore. Power outages during summer have become quite common. One area is hit, complaints arise, statements are made, power supply resumes and the problem gets brushed under the carpet until another area finds itself without power.
The heat can never be the reason. Heat waves in Malta have been around since forever. In fact, the only thing that should be usual about them is having the necessary infrastructure to cope with them. Time after time, promises are made regarding improvement in the quality of life. However, the quality of life does not depend on beautiful brochures, well-chosen words or even press releases.
Quality of life depends at least on whether people can sleep safely in their own homes, whether vulnerable people are protected from harsh temperatures and whether public services function when they are needed most. Following a sleepless night, life must continue and one is expected to get up, go to work and contend with the mess on the streets of Malta.
The day starts with fatigue from the power outage, which is further added to by traffic before even starting work. Opening the fridge to see if your food is still good is yet another unnecessary expenditure. It serves as a stark reminder that it is the normal citizenry that feels the impact of failing infrastructure.
This is certainly not what one would expect in a country that time and again portrays itself as the success story of modern Europe. Access to electricity should never be considered a privilege or something that is only available during certain times of the year.
Any electricity system may face failures, especially during peak times. But when such failures keep repeating themselves every summer, then the problem ceases to remain just that. Malta has experienced sustained population growth, increasing tourism, continuous development and a growing dependence on electricity. These developments were not accidental. They were the result of deliberate political and economic choices.
Building a second interconnector is, in fact, an acknowledgement that demand for electricity will keep on rising. Since this was understood years ago by the government, it should have made sure that the distribution system within the country was capable enough to accommodate the demand.
Access to electricity should never be considered a privilege
Getting in more electricity is one thing but delivering it to residents is another thing altogether. Development without infrastructure that can support it is not planning. While Malta has embraced growth, its infrastructure is still struggling to keep pace.
With years of investments announced, citizens have every right to wonder why the same mistakes are being made. Then, there are our local councils. No one expects a mayor or councillor to repair the damage. That is not their responsibility. Their responsibility is to represent the people who elected them. In case the whole area goes through the night without power, the local council should be one of the first to ask for clarifications, press the responsible authorities and act as the spokesperson of the locality.
The representation should go further than just appearing at ceremonies, participating in the celebrations and taking photos on such occasions. Being a mayor does not just mean celebrating the village under bright lights. Being a mayor means representing the people even when the lights go off. Saying nothing does not make one a leader.
This is not simply about one night without electricity. It is about the growing disconnect between political promises and everyday reality. It has been claimed that the economy is doing well, that the level of investment being made is unprecedented and that the quality of life is still a top priority in the country.
But people have started posing themselves a very fundamental question: How is it possible for a successful economy to fail at delivering a basic public service during peak summer months?
Quality of life cannot be defined as just another campaign slogan used to win elections. Quality of life means that there is assurance that whenever one switches on the light, it works. It also means having infrastructure that is planned not only for present needs but also for future demand. Quality of life means that public services are capable to foresee issues and not explaining the issues later.
The electricity will eventually return. The question is whether public confidence will. A single power outage could be taken as an unfortunate occurrence but when this becomes a regular summer experience, then it is no longer a technical problem; rather, it is a problem of planning, responsibility and governance.
In a country that constantly celebrates its economic success, people should not have to wonder whether they will once again spend the night in darkness and heat.
Lydon Vella is currently reading for an MA in European Politics, Economics and Law.
