Participating in the Nationalist Party leadership race is an enriching experience. By meeting councillors in the run-up to the first ballot this Saturday, I have learnt a lot.

We need an open door policy where no one feels excluded and where we re-instil a sense of belonging

We can renew ourselves by reaching out to our grassroots and to all well-meaning persons.

Politics is only significant as a means to be of service to others and as long as it involves remaining in touch with the people.

The Nationalist Party is offering councillors a choice of four candidates.

I for one am determined to make sure that once the leadership race is over, all the party’s available talent and resources will be put to good use.

We need an open door policy where no one feels excluded and where we re-instil a sense of belonging: our Dar Ċentrali and our clubs need to become a hive of activity where we interact to amend the party statute and reflect the needs of a modern society, launching new policy documents, formulating a programme of events, training candidates and re-organising the party media that will need to communicate our message more effectively than ever before.

What is the use of having the best possible documents or track record of successes if one is not communicating well enough with voters whose trust we need to earn?

We are just about 400 days away from electing Malta’s Members of the European Parliament.

At this stage, the Labour Party has no less than two thirds of the Maltese group (four MEPs as opposed to two from the Nationalist side).

Imagine if the Labour Party had that kind of majority in our own Parliament!

A more just result would be to have three MEPs from each side of the political spectrum. Such a result can only be achieved through sheer hard work.

I am contesting the party leadership out of a sense of duty and loyalty.

At this critical juncture, I am offering my political experience to the benefit of the party.

Equally, I believe in team building – the party pertains to all those who wish to work within its fold for its benefit and that of the country.

Last, but by no stretch of the imagination least, I would like to ensure that we get our communications strategy right.

In a modern society, it is all about communications – among ourselves, as we reach out to others with whom we need to engage in sincere and constructive dialogue, as we address different gatherings, as we reach out to all social strata without any distinction, as we make proper use of our own media and other forms of communication, and as we develop an effective social media action plan.

Over the past days, I have launched a detailed list of targets to be achieved over the next 12 months. My motto: “Niġġeddu. Nissaħħu. Nirbħu” (we’ll renew, get stronger, be victorious) is what we need to work on with immediate effect – the work carried out over the coming months provides the platform for what would then need to be achieved in the months to follow, and so on and so forth.

Any proper action plan needs to have identifiable milestones which are achievable.

Labour is still enjoying its honeymoon period but early indicators are worrying.

There is already a widening gap between the style of government that was promised and how the country is being run.

The Nationalist Party needs to go through its process of renewal at the fastest pace possible in order to be there for all the people of Malta.

This is the way forward.