In two years’ time, the national coffers should be dry. The EU directive to reduce the national debt to at least three per cent of the Gross Domestic Product will still be in force. Our GDP is becoming weaker and weaker, so the national debt must be relatively smaller. But this cuts both ways. Will it be a game with figures?

So refunding car registration tax, strengthening pensions, reducing the crushing tariffs on utilities, operating a cleaner power station on gas and improving health services and education are very demanding ambitions, and sap huge funds.

It’s quite easy to blast out such promises but how can you put them to work without funds? Let’s forget about finding black gold with Malta becoming an oil producer. Over long years, we have had international oil exploration companies drilling boreholes and nothing substantial has come out, except frustration... forlorn hopes only.

A new broom will, of course, sweep clean for a time, but in time, it becomes a listless, old, used broom.

Is Malta a treasure island of keen imagination and daydreaming?