Anybody who follows politics, knows perfectly well that even the best leaders at times have no other option but perform a U-turn. After all, we are humans and prone to make mistakes. Nobody has and will ever have the infallibility trait, unless for politically-blinkered fanatical supporters for whom the party leader enjoys divine status.

The case of the Prime Minister’s decision to backtrack over his refusal to launch a public inquiry into Jean Paul Sofia’s tragic death, however, has left the government in quandary. The reason is that you can not make a spectacular U-turn while driving full-steam ahead as this is very like to result in a head-on crash. In this case the decision was overturned just days after government vehemently opposed a call to hold such inquiry, to the point that it even unanimously voted against such proposal in parliament. While government’s U-turn ultimately prompted a positive reaction and was hailed as the right decision, the circumstances which led to this sudden change of heart have raised even more questions. So far, the explanation given by the Prime Minister leaves much to be desired, given the fierce opposition he had been putting up which turned the matter into a crusade. This is either a case of a damascene conversion or else political convenience in the face of the backlash which was mounting even from within. The Prime Minister reportedly remarked that no Labour MP was forced to toe government’s line when the parliamentary motion for a public inquiry was put to the vote. On other hand, we were never told this was a free vote. Consequently, each an every of the 39 MPs who backed the Prime Minister ought to explain their vote. Otherwise, the doubts raised in the aftermath of Monday’s U-turn will only fuel further speculation.

UHM Voice of the Workers back in February had already signalled its approval for a public inquiry as a means to improve occupational health and safety in the construction industry. However, it takes two to tango. Unfortunately, workers in the construction industry were not forthcoming whenever this union took initiatives to engage with them in a bid to safeguard their rights. Each time an attempt was made we found a brick wall. It is thus unfair, to point fingers towards unions, whenever the issue of occupational health and safety is on the country’s agenda. Unless, we find ways and means to facilitate workers enrolling in unions, very little will change. This is yet another reminder, why government should seriously consider mandatory membership for low-paid jobs…at least starting in the construction sector. We cannot afford to wait for a spectacular U-turn to act.   As UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said: One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!