Wriggling out of pressing issues

There would seem to be something intrinsically wrong at the way Malta or, rather, most local politicians, look at some of the most important challenges facing the country today. Contrary to situations abroad, Malta sometimes acts as if it prefers to turn the other way or, at times, ignore issues that can well create serious difficulties to the economy unless they are tackled at the right time.

The issue over the annual award of an allowance by the government to make up for a rise in the cost of living is one, but there are others that are just as important as this, if not more, and about which so many warnings have been given to the government over a number of years.

The sustainability or otherwise of the health service and of the stipend system is a matter that ought to have long been preoccupying the minds of administrators but, despite the controversies that arise from time to time, no headway is ever made to seriously go into the implications involved if Malta continues to refuse to deal with it rationally and responsibly.

The problem is that neither of the two main parties is prepared to listen to expert advice coming locally from experienced financial leaders and from abroad given by international organisations. These maintain that Malta may well pay a heavy price if it keeps ignoring the issue.

Both parties stick to their belief that the matter is one of priorities, with the Nationalists, for example, insisting that the removal of the stipends would upset the educational system. Labour, on the other hand, seem to think that cutting waste and making better use of resources would make a difference.

No one is suggesting the removal of the stipends, and, clearly, it would be foolish for any party or administration to be against greater efficiency in the utilisation of financial resources. However, in holding to these views, the two parties are wriggling out of a pressing need for the country to look differently at the provision and sustainability of the stipends and health service.

In a newspaper interview, University rector Juanito Camilleri spoke again of his views on the matter, saying he was in favour of stipends or any other means of financial support for all those who declare they need the funds as otherwise they would find it difficult to follow their studies.

However, as former Central Bank Governor Michael Bonello had mooted, it would make more sense for the country to eliminate stipends for all but the most needy – shifting instead to a loan arrangement that is present in other countries – while retaining free tuition fees for the time being.

What is striking is that, over 10 years, stipends would cost the country a staggering €240 million, which, according to the rector, is the capital investment required to build the infrastructure needed to prepare the university for the next few decades.

The figure ought to bring the political parties to their senses, though it is most unlikely that any of them will make any change in their policies that could, even remotely, make them lose votes.

For the same reason, it is next to impossible for any of them to look into the sustainability of the health service. Never mind the fact that other countries have been forced to cut health spending, the two parties are unlikely to even consider talking about it, let alone making cuts.