The government I form part of has put dialogue on top of the country’s agenda and it is there to stay. We believe true democracy cannot function unless citizens are consulted on a regular basis. Consultation should not be sought only towards the end of a legislature. The reality that communication is no longer a one-way thing between the institutions and the citizens cannot be overstated. With modern means of communication, the linear model of communication is fast transforming itself into a more horizontal interphase of planes of communication that know no boundary – be it geographical or social.
Communication and dialogue are two key issues of this government. I personally believe it is essential to send out messages that are clear, received well and understood clearly. But it is just as important to listen and understand what our citizens are thinking and proposing.
Open systems of dialogue are important because the process of communication is a conversation between the various components of our societies. It is not a simple monologue with no room for feedback.
To my mind, there has been no other government in Malta which has invested so much time and energy in dialogue and in communicating with its citizens without impinging in any way on the basic freedoms of thought and expression.
We are now past mid-term, halfway through the current legislature and we can certainly take stock of what this government has done in order to listen to the citizens it represents. In short, the government has really and truly set up the necessary structures through which, directly or indirectly, the citizens can voice their opinions and put forward suggestions as to what needs or should be done.
Since the last general election, the Prime Minister and his team have organised and participated in over 40 public dialogues. That is, more than one public dialogue per month. As Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue I have been involved in all of them. The Prime Minister has made it a point to personally attend a number of these public dialogues, both in Malta and Gozo. Besides, away from the glare of the cameras and the media, he has also had the opportunity to personally meet and listen to people from all walks of life.
Various government ministries, agencies and departments have been involved in a number of consultation processes intended to gather feedback and ideas and to help fine-tune new legislation before being enacted. Such consultation processes have taken place before a number of reforms were implemented including those on local councils, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, education – the transition from primary schools to secondary schools, the rent laws, pre-Budget documents, the new authority for competition and consumer affairs and public transport.
My portfolio as parliamentary secretary within the Office of the Prime Minister includes the responsibility for a number of institutions that have specific roles in both the “talking” and the “listening” modes: the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee and the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
Meusac had already functioned effectively in the information and consultation process leading to membership of the European Union but its role has now changed. Besides its crucial work in the dissemination of information, after being reinstituted in August 2008, Meusac became also actively engaged with our 68 local councils and countless NGOs by helping them in their approach to the tapping of European resources.
On its part, the MCESD provides a forum where the social partners meet regularly and provide valuable input and feedback to the government in the drafting of its policies. In a parallel exercise, every year, the government also holds a consultation exercise in connection with the drafting of the annual Budget. By such proactive measures we are implementing a two-way communication process thereby keeping our citizens involved in the decision-making process and, hence, owning at least part of the process themselves.
In brief, over the past two and a half years, this government was bent on addressing bread and butter issues, in attracting foreign investment and in enabling job creation. In spite of all the international economic turmoil, Malta is faring well enough. Of course, we need to be sensitive to the needs of each and every member of society. The most solemn promise we can put forth at this stage is that we remain committed to consult, to work and to achieve results for the common good.
Dr Said is Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers, Fair Competition, Local Councils and Public Dialogue.