Vans and cars, including those used by ministers and government officials, are regularly seen parked illegally in the upper part of Valletta’s Merchants Street, a beautiful pedestrianised zone, the July 28 edition of Times of Malta reported.

Yesterday, we reported that the vehicles were still parked in the same place, despite a government spokesman’s pledge that the practice would be halted.

It is certainly not the story of the year, but it is symptomatic of an anything-goes attitude that is afflicting Malta. This lowering of standards appears to be institutionalised.

In the past few decades, and especially since EU membership 10 years ago, the well-known Mediterranean attitude of circumventing laws and cutting corners started being challenged and, as a result, a series of laws and regulations were introduced intended to improve standards.

Many who voted for EU membership did so because they believed it would bring about greater discipline in certain areas, even if the introduction of wardens and tougher enforcement drew many protests as the measures started hitting our pockets. While education remains key, many law-breakers only get the message when their pockets are affected.

We blamed the government for our ‘tough’ local wardens, we complained because the planning authority [despite its many ills] became more stringent with permits, hunters got hot under the collar because the EU was dabbling in their ‘pastime’, contractors complained because of tougher building standards, our old vehicles had to undergo vehicle road­worthiness tests... the list is endless.

But despite the laments, more people started becoming conscious of the importance of the environment they live in as well as the benefits of living in a more orderly country. As expected, as enforcement and fines were increased, the Nationalist government’s popularity decreased.

Then the Labour Party was elected in March 2013 with an overwhelming majority, promising to do things differently. And it did. It has gradually (perhaps inadvertently) reintroduced a culture where transgressions are allowed to happen.

There is a growing feeling among many law-abiding citizens today that they can get away with infringements.

For example, there is a general feeling that Malta is once again heading towards the over-development which afflicted the island in the 1990s.

As Din l-Art Ħelwa rightly pointed out in its criticism of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development, “superficiality” has accompanied everything this administration has done so far in the good governance of our environment.

It is bad enough that the Parliamentary Secretary for Animal Rights seems more determined to protect hunters’ interests, but today’s story about Birdlife members being chased by the Data Protection Commissioner for something someone else did beggars belief.

After witnessing the Labour Party hounding Arriva, we are now seeing public disgruntlement about declining standards in bus drivers.

Road works are taking place in the middle of the peak tourist season, blatant illegalities are becoming commonplace on building sites. Illegal parking is more prevalent, laws on vehicle emissions are being ignored, while local wardens, who have been overzealous at times, are conspicuous by their absence.

All such concerns have been raised by the media, whose legitimate questions to the authorities about any shortcomings to the government have often been met with a wall of silence.

The government is clearly trying to avoid stepping on anyone’s toes. But there will come a time when the lowering of standards will have an impact on sectors like tourism. Turning back the clock may attract votes, but it will eventually backfire.

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