Successive governments in the post-war period have invested heavily in the physical regeneration of the inner harbour area in order to offset the negative effects of the social revolution caused by the last war.

The development of the Marina Grande as a major yacht facility, the restructuring of the No. 1 dock and the embellishment of its environs in Cospicua as well as the restoration of the Vittoriosa bastions have given a new lease of life to this previously depressed zone. In fact, these areas have emerged as a veritable touristic attraction of the first kind and a boost to the local people who no longer consider themselves living in a depressed area.

Thanks to the media, the pastoral services of the parishes, the initiatives of the Cottonera local councils with their impressive traditional and the socially-oriented state and voluntary institutions, the Maltese people and foreign visitors have discovered this unpolished gem.

However, despite all these initiatives and massive expenditure, the situation will remain ominous on the southern front unless it is strongly buttressed by a general coordinator in the form of a minister or parliamentary secretary for this geographical region long considered as a “priority area”. The main function of this coordinator, besides having a voice at Cabinet level, will be to monitor and assess continually and assiduously the situation that has now reached a highly delicate stage. Another major advantage would be that all agencies in the area would have a focal point and a direct point of reference to offset all bureaucratic difficulties.

Since the late 1940s, as a result of the social upheaval, a wide and ever-increasing socio-economic north-south divide has been slowly but surely developing. Those who adopt an ostrich mentality denying this reality with hypocritical excuses are living in cuckoo-land. Like the Italian Mezzogiorno (southern Italy), the once affluent kingdom of the two Sicilies but now declared a disadvantaged zone earning massive EU funds, the inner harbour area is a geographical region redolent with a historical, cultural and a sound socio-economic past. Culturally, the Maltese southerners are extremely sensitive of their rich patrimony of artistic treasures but academic excellence at University level seems to be a bridge too far.

The non-realisation that “education, education, education” is the major key to personal, social and economic advancement is the biggest obstacle to the cornucopia of benefits that beckon in the inner harbour area.

Still labouring under the outdated mentality of “instant gratification”, a residue from the dockyard mentality when young boys were employed at this naval establishment at the early age of 14+, some poor parents opt for immediate employment for their children.

The dockyard period until the mid-1950s was also a time when De La Salle brothers in their spacious airy college in Cottonera, had special classes preparing for the dockyard entry examination.

The Freres had an impressive educational impact on the numerous young boys in the district.

Unfortunately, many free educational services offered by the state directed mainly at the underprivileged are not being availed of in the inner harbour area.

Ironically, recent statistics on present University students (15-24) emphasise the north-south divide.

In the top 10 places with the highest number of students at the University, five are in Gozo, where there has been a minister for over two decades, but not a single locality from the inner harbour area. Low achievement and lack of educational motivation take time to rectify and to show results.

A concerted campaign that takes into consideration the specific needs of an educational priority area, coordinated by a resident minister, should be implemented without further delay.

If need be, the system of non-streaming should be scrapped in this area so that, grouped in small classes, talented but poor children, unhindered by disruptive elements, will not be denied the chance to progress in life.