The buck stops with us

It is very simple to criticise and it seems to be a pastime in our islands for everyone to criticise and complain. But if this criticism is negative, with no positive suggestions to remedy the situation, then it is a complete waste of time and effort. If, however, the criticism is positive and with possible solutions, then this criticism is worthwhile and should be listened to by the people to whom the criticism is directed, no matter how difficult it would be to implement the positive solutions.

Unfortunately, the people who do not listen to advice are the people who need it most.

Everybody with any common sense realises that Malta is going through a bad time and will continue to do so unless we make a lot of very drastic and brave decisions.

The options that Malta has of earning an honest living for all its citizens are becoming fewer rapidly given the present and future trends in world trade and manufacturing and we are going to be more and more dependent, as time goes by, on our country, and what is in it, to support us.

We are at present, and will be much more in the future, very dependent on the tourism and service industries, all of which rely heavily on foreigners staying in Malta for various periods of time and enjoying their stay sufficiently to wish to remain or revisit us and recommend us to their friends.

This is a fact of life and let no one think otherwise. We are becoming more and more dependent on foreigners liking us and wanting to work and stay with us. Knowing this very important fact, are we looking after our visitors? Are we ensuring that our country is up to a standard they (and, incidentally, us) will accept and enjoy?

Are we educating and training our youngsters to appreciate how vitally important it is for their future to look after Malta? Are we embellishing and protecting our environment, in the wider context, so that we raise and keep it to an international standard? Are we doing these things because we know how vital they are for the future of our country? Are we doing these things because we know that other countries in competition with us for business are already doing these things, realising how vitally important they are for their own countries' survival?

The answer is no we are not doing these things at all. We are letting our country disintegrate around us. We are accepting very low standards and assuming that our visitors will do the same. We are not sufficiently educating and "indoctrinating" our children to protect their future. We are not penalising those who destroy our environment. We are allowing things that we know are wrong to keep on happening.

There are too many people in Malta who seem to think that as long as their home is clean, and their garden is neat, the rest of Malta is not their concern. Well, I cannot feel that way because I love Malta too much and it breaks my heart to see such neglect. To see such bad and indifferent workmanship. To know that decisions that need to be taken for the good of all are not taken purely for political reasons.

We are doing very little to look after our future and the future of our children, mainly because of lack of will. Lack of desire. Lack of inclination. Lack of realisation of need. And lack of money.

We expect that the world owes us a living. We expect other countries to give us help and money. We expect Europe to come to our assistance. We ask and expect people to give.

We should be more proud. We should be more confident of our own ability to succeed. We should not think that all the things that need to be done to make our country competitive and successful should be done and paid for by someone else. The buck stops with us. We are the people to do what is right for Malta. This will cost money and this money should be our money.

There is no country in the world that gets things done by magic. They get things done by a collective effort of will and finance from their own people.

If we want Malta to improve and succeed for us and for our future we must have a leadership that takes us in the right direction and is honest enough with us to tell us that we will not get anything unless we pay for it.

All the decisions that are needed to help Malta, now and in the future, are difficult ones. Political ones and ones that will create initial unpopularity but the people will see, on the long run, that what needs to be done was for our own good and for the good of our country.

The authorities have to be honest with the people and tell them: "We have a problem that has been caused over the years by successive governments putting off unpopular decisions in order to keep our country moving. We need money - a lot of money - to get Malta on its feet. The only help we need from others is the expertise to get things done. We need your help to get things moving. We need you to realise the problems that we are facing. We need your help now and your acceptance of the fact that the government has to collect the extra funds needed over the next few years in order to make things happen".

It will not be a popular decision by the government to ask and obtain such money from the people but I, for one, cannot see any other way out. We have to help ourselves and, although initially painful, we must do it now before it is too late.

Each Maltese family, each Maltese property owner and each Maltese car owner must be made to realise that each and every one of us has to contribute to Malta's future. No one wants to pay more taxes but for the short term we need to. If we are proud and have a civic sense and want to hold our heads high, we will want to.

I would hate it if people comment on this article by saying that the government should rectify our problems with the money they have and are already collecting. Believe me, that will be nowhere near enough. The damage has gone much too far. We are beyond the patching up stage. Patching up has been our problem for too long.

It will take at least six concentrated years to bring Malta around to what it should be and will involve many millions of liri more than we are at present collecting and spending.

It will also take determined action and supervision to change our culture before even this is ruined.

Will a politically and democratically appointed administration have the guts to take decisions that may be initially to its detriment but, on the long run, be for the absolute benefit of the country? I very much doubt it.

If, however, the administration gives us, the people, an honest, factual breakdown of the total expense needed to get us back on track to successful competition with other countries. If this expenditure is spread over a fixed period. If we, the people, can see what our money is being spent on, item-by-item. If we, the people, can see that the job to attain an acceptable standard is being done. Maybe we will then agree with the administration that what is being done is for our own good. And, maybe, if we, the people, know that we are paying extra for the work being done to improve our surroundings for the benefit of our future prosperity and comfort, we will pay more attention and really look after our country.

What on earth are we waiting for?