The Plight Of Poor Families

I am amazed at the insensitivity of the present Nationalist Government in the face of the many problems being faced by several families to make ends meet. During a radio programme which I present, a member of the general public phoned to inquire if we were aware of the number of Maltese families who have had their water and electricity supply cut off because they were not in a position to pay their bills. This person gave details of several families he knows who are living in such unacceptable sub-standard conditions as a consequence of the PN Government's scourge of abnormally-high energy tariffs. Despite all this manifest suffering of many people in the low-income bracket, the Government persists in piling the agony onto such families. There are even innocent children who are growing up in abject misery as a result of all this!

Low-Income Families

I would like to ask how it is humanly possible to raise a family in today's living conditions in Malta if you happen to be, for example, a labourer employed in the Malta Public Service and if your wife does not work and you have a number of children to support? How can such low-income workers support their families? The poor wages earned by such people do not even cover the monthly expenses incurred for the most essential necessities of life. It is coming to a point where some families are going to pieces because both partners have to go out to work, day and night, simply to make ends meet. The negative consequences on the welfare of such families can only be imagined. No wonder that we are hearing of more and more marriages breaking up! As citizens, we have to ask ourselves whether such a social situation is acceptable. Because it is obvious that there is something seriously wrong with this PN Government which has reduced so many Maltese citizens to this unacceptable standard of living.

Creation Of National Wealth

The point being made is this : the PN Government, led by Dr Lawrence Gonzi, is impotent to solve the nation's problems. It has manifestly failed, over and over again, to create the national wealth necessary to ensure a better standard of living for all its citizens. It is always the same with this Government : blame outside circumstances for the situation in Malta, explain to the people that the blame lies fairly and squarely on circumstances beyond the Maltese Government's control. Say that it's the fault of the international economic recession, blame the workers for wanting better working conditions which make Malta uncompetitive. When the price of oil goes marginally up, create a panic to justify energy tariffs price-hikes. But don't mention Government wastage and unnecessary expenditure! Don't mention projects that are, in reality, unjustified burdens on the expenditure of badly-needed national funds. Go on kidding the people. The PN won the 2008 General Election, after all, so who cares? With luck and the usual Machiavellianism, it might even win the next one, so why bother?

A Better Future

This Government has to go. The sooner the better. It's as simple as that if we are determined to eliminate the new poverty that is, unfortunately, increasing on a daily basis in Malta. It's now up to ordinary citizens to make their voices heard and to put pressure on the PN Government to do the honourable thing and step down. Malta has a much better alternative in the Labour Party under its capable Leader, Dr Joseph Muscat. For how much longer can we afford to tolerate the inefficiency and incompetence of the Nationalists? They are simply ruining the country, they are creating social situations where even innocent young children are unjustly suffering the consequences of the Government's failures. Labour in Government, with Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister, is the only realistic solution to this country's problems. Any other solution would be simply wishful thinking!