The Labour Party had been harping for so long on gloom and doom that not only people were relieved that after all they were not being hit so hard as they had expected but the Labour leader swallowed his own propaganda. This is the only way in which I can explain Alfred Sant's poor performance in his reply to the budget speech. In fact, after eight days, the Leader of the Opposition had little of any substance to say. We heard the usual meaningless, hackneyed phrases and unsubstantiated allegations which we have grown accustomed to hear. As usual he leaned on the statistics which suited him to make his arguments, damning as unreliable if not outright deceitful those that refuted them. He rarely reached any heights that could move even his colleagues to applaud. In fact, it was yawns all around most of the time.

This politician, who a decade ago was presented as a fresh breeze on the political scene, promising a fresh or, in his words, sexy flavour to politics, gave us the mother of all flaccid deliveries, though he had a whole week in which to do his homework. He has slowly but surely deteriorated into an indifferent, stale wordsmith. No wonder rumour has it there is trouble brewing within the ranks.

This feeling could not but increase on Friday after the Prime Minister's scintillating reply in Parliament and his appearance a little later on Xarabank. The common Labour sympathiser could not but wonder that if Dr Sant came such a cropper after a necessarily tough budget, what will happen when things will improve. On the TV programme the people could compare and contrast. The Prime Minister, just back from a two-hour speech, as fresh and relaxed as if he has just had a siesta, confident and determined to meet present and future challenges! On the other hand a confused and awkward Leader of the Opposition more intent on picking a quarrel with the presenter, determined to hold on to his ill-conceived one stroke solution of a 10 per cent depreciation of the lira to Malta's lack of competitiveness.

It has now become known that this proposal was never discussed internally. So it is Dr Sant's proposal, which had to be defended by the party. This is not the first time this has happened. We have been told that it was the same with VAT. Lino Spiteri, the then shadow minister of finance, has written that he learnt of the proposal for the removal of VAT while he was dining in a Sliema restaurant. Well it won Dr Sant the 1996 election. But we all know the grave consequences of that decision.

Two years were wasted in trying to reinvent the wheel with the result that a similar but clumsier measure was adopted, which wrought havoc in government finances. No wonder the MLP ran up a record deficit in its short stay in government! It not only cost him his Finance Minister but ensured his utter defeat in the 1998 election. The people had tried him but found him wanting. Moreover, just before the 2003 election he had to renounce meddling with the tax again.

The moral is that Malta cannot afford to be led by a man who makes policy on a personal whim. The people cannot trust a man who for the second time has proved he is prone to make fundamental policy changes without due consideration. Imagine if Dr Sant were the Prime Minister just now! We would have been saddled with a 10 per cent depreciation out of the blue, with more far-reaching consequences than the repeal of VAT.

The Prime Minister has more than once asked to be judged by results. He has taken so many courageous decisions, he has one by one successfully tackled so many issues that one could barely believe he has been at the helm for just nine months. And then the MLP protest there was little they could achieve in 22 months!

Just two comparisons. Take the 1998 budget. Despite really draconian measures, Dr Sant increased the deficit to Lm150 million in his second year in office. This year Lawrence Gonzi decreased it from Lm105 million to Lm 94 million.

When the price of crude oil sky-rocketed to $55 a barrel, this government put a 17 per cent surcharge on the water and electricity bills, with safeguards for those who could not pay. The surcharge has been designed to move according to Enemalta's bill for fuel oil. When in 1997 the price of crude oil was one-fourth the present price, Dr Sant's government imposed an across the board 98 per cent permanent increase in rates.

The people are not fools. In three or four years' time they will have to decide. They will be harangued that 20 odd years in power are more than enough. They will be told that these are the same jaded faces they have been seeing for 20 years. In fact, they realise that only one minister survives the 1987 Cabinet. The leadership as well as the ranks have changed over the years.

The Nationalist Party has succeeded to update its policies while in government. It has peacefully revolutionised the country. It has literally as well as metaphorically ushered Malta into the 21st century.

Any change causes apprehension. A lot of change is painful. The medicine might at times be bitter but the rewards are great and not so far away.

The government is willing to listen as long as decisions have not to be eternally postponed. If the social partners cannot come to terms, it is the government's duty to act. Pension and health reforms cannot wait for ever. White papers will be issued. They will be debated and the government is ready to take on board valid suggestions. But by the end of the new year both reforms will be in place so that both the pensions and health systems will become viable for years to come.

Dr Deguara is the Minister of Health.

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