The editor of this newspaper has posed the important question of whether Labour is fit for the job of running the country (April 11). A very pertinent question and an important one given that in the near future the people will be called to the polls to choose a new government.
Before answering such a question, however, one has to pose two other questions and answer them: Is the Nationalist Party fit for the job? Can Malta afford another five years of PN government? Because I believe there is no alternative to a Labour government. This PN government has failed to provide a better quality of life for Maltese citizens and this because of its incompetence in running the country.
Some examples will suffice to illustrate this undeniable fact. Take the power surcharge that has made a misery out of the lives of so many people such as pensioners. As oil prices increased, the government took the easiest option, passing on much of the cost to the consumer. There was only what was practically a negligible attempt on the part of the government to look into alternative sources of energy. An effective energy policy would have enabled Malta to tackle this problem in a proactive manner with a much less negative impact on consumers.
Take government expenditure as another example. Why is it that no serious attempt has been made to cut down on government expenses such as travelling, consultancy, telephony and hospitality? How do you expect the ordinary citizen to respect the government when two weights, two measures are applied when it comes to making sacrifices? About a year ago, I wrote in this newspaper that government ministers should be the first to set an example where the cutting down of avoidable expenditure is concerned. My suggestion seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
Perhaps the most irritating aspect of the way the Gonzi administration has operated is in its arrogant approach towards Maltese citizens. This government has become an expert in sham consultations with its citizens. An important decision is made, what purports to be a consultation meeting is called and then the government proceeds as it had already decided in the first place! The Prime Minister himself is on record stating that the government will hear out everyone but will then decide and proceed as it deems fit!
One is reminded of that famous passage in the book Pedagogy Of The Oppressed by world-famous educationalist Paulo Freire where he describes the characteristics of an oppressive administration:
"They see themselves as 'promoters' of the people. Their programmes of action (which might have been prescribed by any good theorist of oppressive action) include their own objectives, their own convictions, and their own preoccupations. They do not listen to the people... it seems absurd to consider the necessity of respecting the ' view of the world' held by the people."
Yes, but what alternative does Labour offer, readers will ask. Are you making the argument that Labour will surely win but by default? No, my friends, Labour will be victorious on its own merits at the next general election. First of all, compare your quality of life under Alfred Sant's Labour government with that under the Gonzi administration. What a decline!
Furthermore, can anybody deny that the slogan The Citizen First was not put into practice by Dr Sant when in power? Suffice to say that as Prime Minister, Dr Sant even introduced the practice of having certain days made available when the ordinary citizen could phone a minister to personally discuss with him/her any problems encountered in aspects of administration falling under that particular minister's portfolio.
The performance of the Sant government was also impressive. The deficit in the first six months of 1998 was controlled to about Lm18 million. The rate of economic expansion increased in the first part of 1998 leading to an increase of 14 per cent in the Gross Domestic Product in the first quarter. Major public works projects were carried out at Bugibba in Malta and the Cittadella, Ghajnsielem, Marsalforn, Ta' Dbiegi crafts village and Xlendi in Gozo. All this without placing unnecessary burdens on Maltese citizens.
Yet, on September 5, 1998, there were many who voted against Labour because of the moderate increase in water and electricity bills brought about by the state of the public finances as inherited from the previous PN governments. And the Nationalists had the cheek to criticise Labour over this issue! Time has proved who was genuine and who was not.
Labour's best asset is, of course, its leader, Dr Sant. A man of vision and a leader of high calibre, he is the man Malta needs for a new beginning. He is the man who will give you back the dignity and the respect you deserve as a citizen of a small but always great country.
Go for quality, my friends. Choose Labour.