Raising false expectations

I swore to myself that during the hot summer days I would not write about politics. I was also naïvely hoping that Labour would do the same but, alas, these people never seem to want to take a hike... as in a summer break!

The Labour leader religiously shares with us his Sunday epistles of how not to govern the country wisely and the former secretary general of the Malta Labour Party (during its blackest, most violent era) and Labour’s spokesman for health never loses an opportunity to attack the government. She recently had the cheek to claim that only a Labour government can guarantee free and quality health services (August 2). If that is not a blatant lie then I don’t know the meaning of the word.

Either Marie Louise Coleiro- Preca is suffering from a serious case of amnesia or dementia or her memory seems to have suddenly gone very selective.

May I remind her that, not so long ago, her dearest former leader, Alfred Sant, then Prime Minister of Malta, imposed a tax on medical certificates for all and sundry. Yes, on everyone, indiscriminately: on those on a minimum wage, on those under the poverty line, even on those receiving state aid. Where was Ms Coleiro-Preca then? Where was she when her dear leader also removed students’ stipends? The Labour Party she adores so much is the only political party in Malta that ever imposed any tax burden on health services, rendering them not free. Needless to say, this antisocial measure caused undeniable suffering to patients who perforce needed a medical certificate for treatment. Back then, the Nationalist opposition had screamed shame and scandal and promised to remove the tax forthwith, which it did as soon as it was re-elected in 1998 after Labour failed to govern for a full term.

Sweeping statements by Labour factions promising heaven on earth are the order of the day. But it is very, very important to note that although the author made such an astounding declaration not once did she hint at how Labour was going to guarantee free and quality health services. May I inform her that health services are free in Malta and they have always been so for the last 25 years under the Nationalist government except, of course, during the 22-month Labour stint.

If my memory serves me correctly, health services in Malta rank the fifth best thanks to our brilliant and dedicated medical staff. And may I point out that when the Nationalist Party proposed to build Mater Dei Hospital, Labour’s reaction was atrociously negative, labelling the project “a white elephant”.

Thankfully, the PN ignored Labour’s ranting and went ahead anyway. Always wise after the event, Dr Sant then described the hospital as being “state of the art”.

I also remember Labour’s stand vis-à-vis the pension reform. Hard pressed to comment on the need of a pension reform when he was Prime Minister (1996-1998), Dr Sant had astoundingly replied that pension reform was not necessary before the next 20 years! Imagine us tackling pensions in 10 years’ time! No one from the Labour camp ever challenged that bizarre statement and, to date, Labour’s contribution to the pension reform undertaken by the PN has been to criticise, criticise and criticise.

Many foreigners just cannot believe how this little island of ours can offer not only free health services to each and every individual but also free education to all our children, to adolescents, adults and the elderly! If there are any feathers in the PN’s cap, then they are definitely in health and education. The PN government has also excelled in managing our economy.

I will not go into too many details as the facts speak for themselves but I will add that if, God forbid, we had a Labour government during this alarming global financial crisis we would be among the topmost countries facing bankruptcy.

Poles apart from the PN’s modus operandi, a Labour government would not have had the good judgement or the courage to take the necessary difficult and, at times, unpopular decisions the PN government has wisely made.

Labour has said it would cut taxes, it would not have removed subsidies, as in bread, water and electricity etc and it would not have privatised and introduced the much-needed rent, pension and transport reforms.

In fact, we would still be paying out millions of euros for moribund parastatal bodies and companies: Sea Malta and the Drydocks spring to mind. The PN, on the other hand, took the bull by the horns, focused on balancing the books and did not wait for the EU to order us to stop all subsidies and impose austerity measures to overcome financial catastrophe.

The major difference between the PN and the PL is that, to ensure that our economy remains on a sound footing the Nationalist government is dead set on creating a healthy and attractive environment for investment to grow and thrive.

On the other hand, the PL is only obsessed with gaining votes and, instead of revealing any of its policies (if it has any), it sits magnanimously on the fence oooing and aaaing at any move the government makes, excelling in creating a doom and gloom scenario.