Empowerment

Independence Day is back, but unfortunately in our heavily polarised country, it remains a big celebration for only half the population.

The Nationalist Party once again comes out as a visionary party, choosing a theme that is interactive on two levels. Its logo for Independence Day is interactive because it reminds one of information technology, while its substance is interactive because it empowers each and every one of us to participate in the building of our country.

The theme int@smart_malta incorporates all the fundamental principles of the Nationalist Party in that it encourages us to use our talents to make our country a better place to live in. Once again, this theme gives each one of us a pivotal role in building the common good.

Whoever we are and whatever we do, we are all bound to have talents, albeit different in quantity and quality. It is time we all felt patriotic and responsible.

It was interesting how during the last World Cup many of us supported other nations, at times in an exaggerated fashion. One wonders why we don't feel so patriotic for our own nation.

If Malta is to grow it will only grow if each and every one of us invests in our country. Unfortunately, the grass is always greener on the other side and it is common practice for the central government to get the blame for everything that does not go well.

The Nationalist government has been relentless in its quest to provide the country with the best opportunities to grow, but this is often marred by individuals and groups who sabotage these efforts. The ploy is purely political. One wonders whether that group of people which has always managed to bring out the worst in a situation can one day bring out the best.

Think about it! The Nationalist Party always had a vision for Malta which included fundamental principles like Christian democracy and the empowerment of the people. Historically, this can also be seen in the way Malta was transformed from a repressive socialist system into a democratic one. Today no one fears what newspaper he/she reads in public.

Over time people's talents have been optimised to the full. The Nationalist government has cultivated a system where every person is an asset to the growth and development of the country. Some say that the Nationalist Party is not acknowledging its deficits and is only focusing on positive aspects. It is true that on the Nationalist media we rarely hear of the worries that assail Cabinet ministers as they approach challenging situations. It is also true that any good governing system would do its utmost to responsibly tackle any national issue without unduly worrying its citizens.

Our country is still growing and, yes, there are major challenges that we have to face. Each and every one of us has a role to play in the building of our country. The continued growth of our country will depend on one factor... the responsible use of our talents to an optimum level. Let us all be proud of being Maltese.

Dr Cassar is a Nationalist MP.