Generation Y

There is a new generation growing up and being formed by the technological revolution modern societies are undergoing. It is internationally called Generation Y. It is the generation that has grown up with internet, broadband, wi-fi, Google, CD, DVD, MTV, MP, SMS and MMS.

This generation is the world's first truly mobile and connected generation. It is the generation the experts say is least prone to look back into the past because of the instant connectivity they take for granted. They have difficulty in imaging a society without interconnectivity.

The fact that our youth identify themselves with this generation is yet another revolution that was possible thanks to the forward vision of the Nationalist Party in government, which has invested millions of euros to position Malta and the Maltese to be part of it, with our youths in pole position.

The Nationalist government's success is in the opening up of the economy, allowing heavy investments by both the public and private sectors to "wire up" the country and to put into place the necessary infrastructure for the interconnective revolution to take place.

Experts say that youths forming part of Generation Y would have no recollection of the Thatcher era of the 1980s. Equally ours would have no personal recollection of the socialist era when the state controlled all means of communication which at the time meant the traditional television, radio and land telephony.

Most of the Maltese Generation Y started being born from the first Nationalist government elected in 1987. Little can they imagine that there was a time when one faced police prosecution for holding a primitive two-way wireless receiver. What a far cry from the manner in which successive Nationalist governments have introduced the most modern technology in every level of Maltese society.

Today's new generations need to be fully equipped to benefit from the interconnective age. The market economy all over the advanced economies is looking at this new generation to occupy the topmost position in the service industries and to utilise their technological skills in the market economy in general. With increased job mobility even at the EU level our efforts in this direction must not only continue but multiply.

This new generation presents a challenge at the manner in which politicians are to address their needs. There is the danger that youth become less sensitive to the political issues of the day since they look at politics and politicians in a different manner from that of other generations. It is our duty as politicians to address their needs to avoid them getting detached from the world of politics.

The Nationalist government led by Lawrence Gonzi has addressed a development agenda which would take us to 2015.

This is a clear message from the Nationalist government that, in order to be relevant to this new generation, politicians have to look beyond the usual five years between one election and another.

This also explains the Nationalist government's sustained programme to further develop e-learning and to direct our tertiary institutions towards keeping our youth prepared for the technological developments taking place worldwide at a very sustained pace.

The economic boom of Third World countries, such as India, based on the capability of its new generations to compete and be innovative in the ICT market, is an example of the potential which a country like Malta can and is starting to achieve.

The talent of our people and, particularly, of our youth in as far as ICT goes will make up for its size and lack of natural resources.

Here again the sustained investment of the Nationalist government in education is a guarantee for the future, particularly given Malta's international high standing in technology. More and more of our youth are moving away from the traditional professions and trades to take up courses and jobs in ICT.

If opportunity is what Generation Y wants than the Nationalist government's record in this sphere is a certain guarantee for the future of this generation and of the many others to come.

Dr de Marco will be contesting the March 8 election on behalf of the Nationalist Party.