A year to remember

The year 2004 is full of challenges for us Greens. We are full of enthusiasm to break the mould of two-party politics in the June European parliamentary elections. We are proud to be represented in these elections by a seasoned and experienced candidate who, for the past years, has led one of the most dynamic European political families: the Greens.

Arnold Cassola is the first Maltese ever to lead a European political family. Malta has only to gain if Prof. Cassola is given the chance to utilise his experience to work for his country in the European parliament. One cannot but note that a significant segment of the electorate who voted PN for the simple reason that they wanted Malta in EU are fed up with the incompetence shown by the PN in government. And many are still haunted by the scene Alfred Sant made in Ta' Qali when he declared that the partnership had won.

Prof. Cassola is the simple choice of those fed up by the PN but are distrustful of the MLP. There has never been a better time for AD because this time nobody can use scare tactics on the electorate. This time voters can be cool and relaxed because the issue at stake is not the election of a government but the choice of the most outstanding candidate to represent Malta and Gozo.

All those who deep in their hearts wished to vote Green in 2003 can freely do so in 2004. The age of fear is past.

The beginning of a new year also gives us the chance to reflect on the challenges facing the country. We hope that the Maltese and Gozitans will show the same sense of solidarity they showed in charity events this Christmas while filling their income tax form. For us Greens the welfare state is the most effective form of solidarity. The future of the welfare state depends on tax compliance by all and sundry. Tax evasion is daylight robbery from the weakest in society.

The government should heed AD's call to publish the amount of people caught cheating on their tax returns since the introduction of the tax compliance unit. If this unit is really working we will just congratulate the government. If not, the government has a lot to answer for!

Another challenge facing our country is the employment situation. As a progressive party believing in social justice, the Greens consider job creation a national priority. One of our main challenges during the next years is ensuring that future generations will inherit a strong and dynamic welfare state. AD reiterates its willingness to participate in the welfare reform commission but will continue to insist that these reforms are based on the principle of wealth redistribution. During the next year a sub-committee led by AD committee member and sociologist Noel Agius will formulate AD's position on employment policy and the future of the welfare state after discussions with trade unions and the social partners.

Together we will present a responsible and sustainable alternative to neo-liberal formulas which are creeping in the national debate. The defence of the environment and the countryside will remain high on the list of the Green agenda. The embellishment of roundabouts is no compensation for the loss of precious countryside and agricultural land. We will be vigilant against devastating projects like the Verdala golf course and the Hondoq ir-Rummien project. So long as there is no law regulating the financing of political parties we will remain deeply suspicious that the environment is being offered on a plate to land speculators in return for pre-electoral donations.

We just hope that in 2004 Malta will not simply become a member of the European Union but would also become more European in matters like law enforcement. How can we qualify as Europeans when our hospital emits gases through its incinerators? How can we qualify as Europeans when to make up for years of inertia and incompetence the government plans to develop a landfill next to Mnajdra? And what are we doing for our own children's health? Is it not a contradiction that, in spite of the fact that our children hold a world record in obesity, most of the children programmes on TV are sponsored by the fast food industry?

And what are we doing to stop alcohol consumption among children? Europe is synonymous with cultural development. It is time to ask how much the government is contributing to artistic, musical and cinematographic development apart from the usual Eurovision hype. It is time to decide whether we should join Europe as Juan Mamo's Ulied in-nanna Venut or as emancipated and proud Maltese and European citizens. We invite the Maltese and Gozitans to participate in our bid to make Malta a more democratic country during the next year.

It is time to cut the spin and get some real passion in Maltese politics. Let us make 2004 a year to remember.