Consensus

It is a great shame that after only a short time since the campaigns for the referendum and the election, the main political parties are at each other again. Moreover, it seems that both political parties are plagued with internal turmoil.

The result of this is that we have a situation where instead of our politicians concentrating on solving the many problems that we have, they are wasting time and energy fighting each other. As if not enough time, money and energy were wasted in the first three months of this year, we are at it again! And heavens above, it seems as if we are in for another bout of political diarrohea in 2004, with the elections for the local councils and the elections for MEPs.

The country just cannot carry on in this manner. We just cannot afford to play the harp while the island burns.

We have massive problems facing the country, the deficit primarily; the productivity levels, a problem which has to be seriously addressed; the environment, which is a big problem with fairly easy solutions; the waste management problem; our roads are a disaster of the first quality, although some progress has been made; as to the schedules of works, target dates do exist, but only on paper. There are the employment figures, which seem to be creeping up; the entrance to our city, Valletta, is like a bazaar, and many others. These are all national problems and must be treated as such.

The time to adopt a concentrated effort on a national basis is well overdue!

The time for our politicians to start working together is well overdue!

The time to stop bickering about topics of little importance is well overdue!

The time to stop acting to acquire votes is well overdue!

The time to run the country on a consensus basis is well overdue!

In order for the country to move forward, there is an urgent need for both parties to get together and work on a consensus basis. It is only then that decisions can be taken without the fear of losing a vote here and a vote there. Decisions can then be taken on a national level and in the best interest of the country. This system will leave no option for either party to make political mileage.

The people are very fed up with the present situation. We need a change in culture and attitudes. We need people who really and truly have the interest, that the country moves forward, at heart. We need people who work to bring the country forward and not to ensure votes at the next election.

Above all, we need people with enough courage to be able to work together, irrespective of their political creed, to make Malta the little paradise it should be. Our Minister of Finance was recently quoted as saying that he would like to see the country run by consensus. Excellent, now we said it let's do it for the benefit of all.