Confused gasps of a dying regime

Only a few days ago the caretaker Prime Minister rushed back to Malta in a state of confusion from Gozo where he was attempting to bring back into the Nationalist Party fold some of the sheep which had abandoned the party even in Gozo. Usually this panicky return to base is unnecessary unless for a very serious reason. And a serious reason there indeed was.

Alfred Sant had just revealed to the press and to the Maltese public a Cabinet document clearly indicating the government's intention to make the people pay for medical services in spite of the fact that they are already forking out huge bites of their salaries in taxes. Indeed, Dr Sant had been regularly challenging Lawrence Gonzi to state if he had the intention, if re-elected, to make the people pay for medical services on top of their taxes. And Dr Gonzi denied this every time, thus furnishing the Labour Party with invaluable video clips. The infamous medical document contradicts the Prime Minister's declarations.

In short, this document reveals that there was agreement at Cabinet level on the concept of making people pay for medical care. The document also emphasised that these unholy and unsocial intentions were not to be applied just yet due to their effect on political unpopularity. Now people are saying "Vote Gonzi and pay for medical care" and "Vote Gonzi and get a lie".

This brings up another health matter which concerns me directly. In Parliament I had revealed the confusion and untruth of the government breast screening imaginary programme. The Prime Minister and Louis Deguara, the caretaker Health Minister, fumbled around my accusations that the government had no serious plans for a national breast screening programme. The head of the Oncology Department confirmed that there was no plan for this programme in spite of the fact that the Prime Minister declared it in his budget speech. In the light of the infamous medical care payment document revelation, Dr Gonzi has once more been caught with his pants down and now one is inclined to believe his fables even less.

The same goes for the dockyard situation. The government keeps rubbishing our commitment to safeguard the interests of our shipyards. The situation in Poland and the report by Commissioner Neelie Kroes shed more truthful light on the matter. What we are suggesting is considered by the outgoing government in Malta as non-existent for the sake of political convenience and laziness and apathy towards a problem which affects 1,700 workers and their families. No one in the EU has told Poland they will not listen and try to come to a solution. Why should they say so to us?

Dr Gonzi has also solemnly declared that close to the election he has discouraged promotions and appointments in the civil service. What is happening is the opposite: promotions, new employments and transfers are being effected on a daily basis. This is yet one more instance of Dr Gonzi shooting down his own credibility.

Finally, there is little one can add to public knowledge and disappointment with the situation at Public Broadcasting Service.

This has practically been hijacked by PN people while everyone, including Labourites and other non-Nationalists, support PBS by their fees. The Maltese public certainly deserves a more objective public broadcasting station.

This country definitely needs a change of government and a new beginning. Political honesty under Dr Gonzi has adopted another meaning. One can lie as much as one likes while declaring that one's adversaries are confused.

Ms Dalli is a sociologist and Labour spokesman for the public sector and women.