It will soon be Lawrence Gonzi’s third anniversary as prime minister of Malta.
Bearing in mind Alfred Sant’s 22-month stint – Malta and Gozo can really compare now.
New Labour has been trying to drum into us that the Nationalist Party has been in power for too long. Its mentions that the latter party has been in government for nearly 20 years, obviously wanting to forget the tragic episode of 1996 to 1998.
In reality this is not the case. A head of government moulds his team and vision into policies that guide the nation. Therefore, the Gonzi government has only been there for three years, and is still new to the business.
In these three years, a lot has been achieved, and now comparisons must be made. The Europe issue went all the way from the freezer of Alfred Sant to the benefits of the accession with Lawrence Gonzi.
A “small” sum of e855 million plus endless amounts on various other items, are the difference. Education has gone from the closure of the polytechnic to the opening of MCAST. The difference being thousands of youths being given the chance – by the Nationalists – to expand on their studies, to become something in life.
This education programme, we are told, will extend to every town and village in Malta, with the building of new schools, and the renovation and heavy maintenance done to practically all schools.
The government school in Sliema is one where the beauty of the building has been uncovered. Works have been ongoing for some time now, ensuring the best presentation and school environment for our children.
Education has to play a central role in the future of our children’s lives. Then we have SmartCity. So what’s the link? Simple. There is a whole line of thought, forward looking, to benefit our youths. Giving them a good solid education, with a view for them to take up good jobs, but not only.
In the dialogue recently held in Gzira, Minister Ninu Zammit took a long breath, and gave out a list of projects his ministry undertook. Work was entrusted to his 3,000 employees, and, I must say, this work was not only completed, but completed to a high standard, and in good time.
Where items were not done properly these were re-done. Only a look at the Ghar id-Dud project, will confirm the above, as the Sliema promenade has been extended and upgraded as should be. The upgrading of the kiosks and the uniformity in new trees should follow.
The whole string of projects, of vision has been coordinated by the Prime Minister, who is the person responsible for the success. This three-year period of his being Prime Minister, and its results, augur well for our future. Voting for this Prime Minister to extend his term for another five years, is certainly not voting in an old government.
Then you compare the Labour Party vision, fresh from the annual conference, and a stream of papers on various sectors of life, unsigned, proposing various initiatives. Its only snag is that most of its ideas and proposals have either been already implemented by this government, or are on course to be implemented. So what’s new in the Labour camp? In-fighting galore, people not paying their membership, and the results of elections that make the news, because one faction won on the other.
Translate this into government terms. This means that, if ever in government, Malta will get a split party again. It will mirror the 1996 government under the old leader Alfred Sant, who has been party leader longer than Gonzi. Now, would we vote in a second version of such a government?
It really depends on all of us, where we to vote in an eye for and eye and tooth for a tooth government, as amply displayed in Gordon Cordina’s case, among others. Or should we continue with this fresh Prime Minister, who after only three years, has proven himself in so many aspects of governance. That, surely, warrants the vote of the majority of the Maltese electorate.
Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP