Is success in a general election the only prize for a successful government? I am afraid this is the perception of the great majority of the supporters of our two main parties.

Notwithstanding this statement, those others who look at politics as an indispensable tool to help people in their multitude of daily needs and unfortunate circumstances have a different opinion; and quite rightly so, I dare argue. In this instance one’s overriding reward should be the ability to introduce the appropriate measures that we believe in no matter what, even though the benefits might not be felt overnight and some others might not be very easy to explain.

While the turmoil is spreading rapidly on our southern shores, this might be the right time to reflect deeply on what is being done on our island. Definitely our achievements are the fruit of a hard-working nation guided sensibly by an intelligent Administration. Those who come to visit us wonder how a nation without any natural resources like ours achieves so much.

In the last years many of our longstanding ills and illnesses have been tackled and others are in the process of being addressed once and for all. Some have to be dealt with vigorously and immediately and others with measures that will take more time but eventually reap benefits for all the nation. These things are tackled of course with no small pains to the people directly involved while stretching our taxes to the limit.

It is heartbreaking to look back and realise that if certain measures were introduced 20, 30 or even 40 years ago things might have been much much better today; and our standard of living would have been higher and achieved without the sacrifices one has to endure today.

I guess it is no use crying over spilt milk. At this point in time it is futile blaming ourselves that we never introduced this or that measure earlier. The all-important factor now is that decisions are being taken.

These are not sweet ones but at last we are grabbing the bull by the horns. All this has to unfold while keeping in mind the adverse back-drop of the European economic situation. We must remember that many world-renowned economic experts predicted that all this would be over in the last months of 2010 – this was not the case because this adverse economic situation is lingering on.

The new laws regarding rent; local councils; the drydocks issue; the restructuring of the Water Services Corporation employees; pensions and other initiatives have all been introduced and are already reaping dividends. On the other hand the restructuring of Air Malta; the overhaul of public transport and other long-standing headaches will be dealt with in the coming months, and hopefully with the least collateral damage to our workers and their families.

So not all is doom and gloom on our island. Realistically no one expects that all this will succeed without any problems. Nothing succeeds 100 per cent. National and international situations fluctuate so rapidly and the decisions which are taken today might not be the appropriate ones next week. We have to be tall enough to admit that something misfired and remedial action has to be taken.

Notwithstanding the international adverse economic situation and with humility and relief I must admit that not all is gloom and doom for our lovely islands. And this will succeed if we keep on addressing our long-standing ills and illnesses.