The year 2010 was a veritable annus horribilis for most countries with many enduring disaster after disaster. The severe austerity measures introduced by the various governments to try to make ends meet will undoubtedly leave their toll on all consumers as they will be suffering the dire consequences of job cuts, frozen salaries, reduced pensions, slashed social benefits, soaring taxation and education fees.
To add insult to injury, these same countries have had to brave the harsh weather phenomena: the big freeze, apart from floods, landslides and devastating fires in other parts. We have recently heard that tens of thousands of people were without water in Northern Ireland due to frozen burst water pipes, reminiscent of the 1970s in Malta when we too had no water in our taps although our pipes were fine!
The year 2011 does not seem to be looking any brighter for most and, in the UK, union bosses are predicting another horrible year ahead because of the cuts in the benefits system and the public service.
Unfortunately, crime overseas is also thriving with murders and disappearances abounding.
Yet, here in Malta we have been basking in the Mediterranean sun, with most of us overspending during the Christmas period, wining and dining to our hearts’ content. On the economic front, Malta is doing rather well too considering what we all risked losing: our jobs, our salaries, our pensions and our social benefits. Business is also thriving. According to the director-general of the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, sales over the Christmas period were definitely better than last year’s: “The gloom is over and people felt more comfortable spending their money than they did last year. Private consumption is growing again,” Vince Farrugia said (The Times Business, December 30).
It would be interesting to know how our restaurants fared. All I can say is I guess they must have done pretty well because the “fully booked” reply was given more often than not. The National Statistics Office showed that tourism grew by 8.4 per cent in November, so, as arrivals continue to grow, we know that hotels were better off than last year: “Tourism to Malta grew more than in any of its Mediterranean competitors this year with a 12.5 per cent increase, to reach 1.33 million visitors who spent €1.13 billion, both record figures for the island” (December 31).
It is so true that every cloud has a silver lining as the pain suffered by most European countries has resulted in our gain. In fact, most of the tourists hailed from the EU member states suffering financial turmoil, political unrest and extraordinary weather conditions, the total per capita expenditure standing at €853, up eight per cent over 2009.
Public funds invested in advertising Malta as a great destination and in upgrading our cruise liner terminals as well as the wise political decision to introduce low-cost airlines are all leaving the desired result.
More great news: the annual fund raising telethon L-Istrina on Boxing Day broke another record this year reaching the €2.3 million mark. Another record €668,217 were collected during an open day fundraising marathon at Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the residential home for the disabled in Siġġiewi on New Year’s Day. These extraordinary results achieved during difficult economic times clearly show that although we love celebrating Christmas in a very lavish style we have also spared more than a thought for those in difficulty among us. Kudos to us all!
And more kudos goes to the police force for their successful vigilance during the Christmas period. How wonderful it was to hear that the Don’t Drink And Drive campaign really paid off and that no fatalities were reported. I know for a fact the widespread roadblocks and random checks played a major role in making drivers think twice before getting behind the wheel if they had consumed alcohol. Hopefully, the Assistant Police Commissioner was right when he said there seems to be a “gradual and slow cultural change” in terms of drink-driving, with young people making better use of public transport such as minibuses and not-so-young people opting for taxis.
We have much to be thankful for and our hearts go out to all those among us who are suffering. Although not everything is hunky dory, compared to the rest of the international community we are not too badly off. Most of us have had a healthy and safe Christmas break. Now the new year is in perhaps we too can gradually and slowly change culturally and share our good cheer. They say a smile goes a long way and costs nothing. So, for starters, let’s not take our good fortune for granted; let’s try and be more positive and let’s smile a tad more often. The rest will follow.