Malta sometimes describes itself as an “IT centre”, although I don’t really understand why, since its domestic IT is nothing to write home about (unless ‘home’ is only Malta and writing means sending in complaints via this newspaper).

It calls itself a tourist centre which, indeed, it is  - except that its success mostly depends on geography, history and nature and not so much on the inhabitants, who are steadily working to destroy and disfigure the natural beauty it once had while offering, at best, a fairly mediocre understanding of ‘service’ and internationally-recognisable standards.

It sees itself as a “financial centre”, although its reputation as a base for safe and reliable international banking has surely now gone out of the window, thanks to people at the top of its own government.

And it’s a centre for “offshore gaming”. Well, yes, that’s something we can surely shout about.

It makes us all feel so proud, I am sure.

Meanwhile, its health services rightly enjoy a wide reputation for excellence on an international scale.

It may have waiting lists and be understaffed in some areas, and have crumbling buildings, but there is no shortage of acclaim from locals and foreigners who have been forced (and sometimes travelled here) to use it.

So why does it keep producing lawyers – who are unlikely to find profitable work in their own areas and may well end up in a call-centre – instead of doctors and nurses?

Why isn’t the education structure, starting at school and enthusiastically and financially encouraged by the government through university, aiming towards having more doctors and nurses?

Pay them to train in the UK (as most of them - having the facility of the language – already do) and bring their expertise back home.

Brexit or no Brexit, there has always been ‘freedom of movement’ between the UK and Malta and the Maltese would be travelling with ‘skills’.

Imagine: Malta, the health centre of Europe!

The government could also do something about the foul, dusty air and the unheeded exhaust emissions. That, rather than gambling, might be something to boast about.

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