Alfred Sant: The myths and the facts

On the eve of a general election, I feel it is in the national interest to clarify some points about the person who could very soon be the new leader of our country, Alfred Sant.

It is very important to distinguish between the real Dr Sant and the negative, false image of him created by the Nationalist Party media.

One of the myths created by the PN is that the 1996-98 Labour government was a failure, which was one of the reasons why Dr Sant had to call an early general election. The facts prove otherwise. In a short period of 22 months, the Labour administration of Dr Sant managed to achieve the following:

¤ embellishment of Bugibba and of Ghajnsielem promenade; the holding of the second Euro-Mediterranean Conference between April 15 and 16 , 1997;

¤ the signing of a joint declaration between Malta and the European Union on April 28, 1998 about exploring ways and means to implement Labour's policy on Malta's relationship with the EU;

¤ the training of key personnel for the implementation of European Union educational programmes;

¤ a sustained effort to tackle the problem of illiteracy;

¤ a coordinated campaign against organised crime, especially drug trafficking, with outstanding results;

¤ the inauguration of an education unit at the Corradino Correctional Facility;

¤ the completion of the first phase of the Chadwick Lakes project;

¤ the cleaning and landscaping of several rural zones;

¤ the inauguration of the Satellite Network Control Centre, in Hal Far;

¤ the expansion of Public Broadcasting Services television links with Australia;

¤ several initiatives so that women could enjoy the same rights as men in all aspects of life and a marked improvement in Gozo-related tourism and employment.

These are just some of the achievements of Dr Sant's 1996-98 administration.

Another myth created by the PN media is that Dr Sant's democratic credentials leave much to be desired. Again, the facts prove otherwise. It was Dr Sant who purged the MLP of all the criminal elements who associated themselves with it in the 1970s and 1980s; the 1996-98 Labour government was corruption-free; even the harshest critics of Dr Sant are forced to admit that the 1996-98 Labour government treated all Maltese citizens on the same basis, irrespective of their political opinions.

The latest myth about Dr Sant created by the PN media concerns what happened on March 9, 2003. The facts are: the interpretation of the result of the referendum on EU membership is no one side's monopoly. Given the complex situation and result regarding the referendum, the opposing sides interpreted the result differently.

The gathering of Dr Sant's supporters at one particular place, Marsa, was one of the major reasons for the fact that there were only minor incidents of political violence on March 9 since Dr Sant's supporters were isolated from the opposing side's supporters in other parts of Malta.

The incident at Ta' Qali outside the counting hall on March 9 has been distorted by the PN media. What really happened was that some journalists from the PN media rushed over to Dr Sant and literally rammed a microphone into his mouth to get his comments.

Let me make one point clear. This was done out of over-zealousness on their part to get Dr Sant's comments. However, the sudden onrush of several journalists and others pushing them from the back created a situation of panic and a way had to be physically cleared for Dr Sant to proceed. Throughout all this, Dr Sant behaved with great responsibility and dignity as did the MLP general secretary, Jimmy Magro. I was there.

Dr Sant enjoys the loyalty and respect of all Labourites and of all Maltese who are not blinded by political partisanship.

My final appeal to all Maltese is to respect the different political opinions of all citizens. On the result of the general election, there can be no different interpretation.

I am, of course, one of those who have absolute faith in the Malta Labour Party and Dr Sant, but I also regard all those holding a different opinion as my brothers and sisters exercising their absolute right of freedom of political belief in a democracy.

On April 13, let there be no winners or losers and let us give our full support to the next Maltese government, whether it be led by Dr Sant or by Dr Fenech Adami.

The national interest demands this.