Ironically or not, some of the people I met over the last days have said that the Nationalists’ failure to hold the election this year was another failed deadline. And it is no wonder that people think on these lines.
This has been an administration of missed deadlines throughout. All main projects have failed badly, in both time and budget, as also in quality of work, and this to the detriment of us all. All indications were that the Nationalists would call an election this year, after the build-up from the Independence celebrations to the budget.
All this together with a little bit, or a lot, of help from our taxes in glorifying the budget and the opening of the Mater Dei Hospital. But even with these ample resources at their disposal, they were not comfortable in calling an election this year.
To Labour this does not make any difference. I said it before and I will not tire in stating that whenever the whistle is blown, we are ready to contest the election with sound and positive arguments, and not with lies. Labour has now been preparing for this election for more than three years, not only involving its supporters, but all those who wished to be consulted. And this did not only result in a hefty document, but in an exercise in open democracy which the Nationalist Party can only dream of.
It was an exercise which showed how Labour works, and how it will continue to work in the future once in government. Going into detail and into open discussion with everyone, Labour has indeed successfully created a healthy environment of goodwill, between a government in waiting and a people thirsty for consultation and dialogue; and above all yearning for change.
Normally, the party would only engage in consultation in the months prior to an election when preparing its electoral manifesto. This time, however, we have from very early on involved all those interested, coming from all walks of life. Indeed, the final general conference will now have a much bigger task in finalising a manifesto from such a volume of ideas and discussions; but this will be nothing but a labour of love.
What this clearly shows is that Labour is able and has engaged in new ways of doing politics, which others have only vaguely promised. It has undertaken a new way of involving one and all, in arriving at a plan aimed to rid Malta of the way that things are done at the moment, with the serious consequences that after all are being borne by the taxpayers.
For example, today, we have an economy which is run on the premise, among others, that the creation of wealth lies necessarily in the destruction of our environment, not only of our countryside, but also the inner cities. Sliema is a good example of what I am saying, the trend being now also transferred to Gzira and Msida. If this is necessary, can’t this however, be planned in such a manner so as to cause the least inconvenience possible? Can’t we do anything better, to help people live their everyday life with some degree of better comfort?
On the other hand, our prime minister seems to be advocating that he has a pair of robust hands that have managed to guide Malta to its present successes. But where are these successes, and by whom are these successes being enjoyed? Today, it is not only Labour that says that the present economic and financial situations are not what they should be. Repeatedly international organisations are also expressing these same views. It is only the Nationalists who cite comments of possible improvement as success.
Labour today is well prepared to govern with an open agenda of dialogue. Successful solutions of the current problems, need more than what the politicians and government alone can give. These solutions need the energy and potential of all. Labour here clearly is the answer. With Labour in government, all will enjoy the benefits of a successful Labour government.
As a last note, today, I cannot but congratulate Kevin Rudd, the new Labour Prime Minister of Australia, in promising to take his country to its rightful place in the future.
The same can be said for Malta. A New Labour government will definitely be not merely an alternative government, but a better government.
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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP Deputy Leader for Party Affairs