The New Year is here. So are the resolutions which were made last Monday night. There were those who aspired to small things. Others would have set themselves targets which, four days down the road, already seem unattainable. All in all, I believe many of us have set goals we hope to achieve during the new year.

Being in politics, and this being an election year, it is only natural that everyone in the political sphere will be hoping for a favourable election result. By this time next year, the new government will have started its second calendar year – the 2008-2013 administration. But before that we have much to think about.

Each party will be setting its goals. Not only is it a question of making an electoral programme and the promises that go with it, but it is also a matter of putting on paper and explaining to the nation feasible policies which will hopefully go down well with the electorate. I am sure that the Nationalist Party will not need to spring any surprises upon the electorate. There will be no Pandora’s Box, and the relative writing will be on the wall for all to see, and hopefully, to understand – the message from this side will be loud and clear.

Our mission statement shall be one of courage, determination and commitment. We shall do our best, with the available resources, so that the targets mentioned by Prime Minister Gonzi will be reached by 2015. This party is headed by a down to earth politician who calls a spade a spade and has no hidden agenda. He is ready to accept that there will be human errors committed along the way, however his political targets are realistic and can be achieved. This party will not promise the rainbow followed in the Wizard of Oz - as each positive achievement must be the result of hard work, stamina and determination.

The agenda presented on 1 May at the Phoenicia Seminar still holds. Malta needs to excel in various fields in order to assure economic success for the nation. This success will have a positive ripple effect for most walks of life be it in the standard of living, our way of life, as well as in our vision for the future. However the basics, even if seemingly good enough today, need to be improved.

The health sector now has the hospital it deserves. The teething problems have to be dealt with. Less facial contortions and a couple of smiles from the staff at Mater Dei will be more than appreciated, especially by the sick. More training, and perhaps a short but intensive crash course in psychology for all health staff, should be considered positively.

In the employment sector, while commending all its efforts, the Employment and Training Corporation must remain committed to training the over 40s who lose their jobs and are finding it difficult to land a new position. I also believe that attitudes for many “employers” should change, vis-à-vis people in this age bracket, who carry with them an unlimited wealth of experience and also down to earth maturity if employed and given the chance to perform. Choosing younger people instead of those aged over 40, does not necessarily mean that the right choice has been made because the former have a longer list of certificates.

On the other hand those at this age must also keep themselves up to date in the ever-changing ways of the world.

Servicing is another area which constantly demands our attention. It will be good to have updated legislation for the Civil Service and the public sectors. However, though rules are there to be followed, they in themselves do not automatically mean success.

They are merely a set of principles to be largely abided by, leaving space for deviations which will crop up at the start of work practically every day. The more rigid the rules, the higher the level of red tape. On the other hand, having no rules means no regulation and this, ultimately, results in chaos. One has to find the middle ground which allows for humanity to creep into the system while, by and large, accepting an operating system that has to be adhered to.

There are other fields, which fall within the servicing sector and which require our constant attention; the financial sector, in all its shapes and forms, today plays an important part in our economy. One false move could lose it all.

Much has been done in the education sector, but there is still room for improvement. To be fair, we have gone miles in the right direction, however there are still basic issues that need addressing. The level of both spoken and written English in our country has deteriorated and desperately needs to be addressed. This is really our bread and butter. It may be necessary to examine, annually perhaps, whether certain topics within the existing curriculum need to be updated and modified. On the other hand, when it comes to the diverse fields in which we now have started to excel, we need to keep up the good work.

Malta’s tourism industry and its performance have improved. The decisions in favour of low cost airlines and a more business-like attitude from all those who operate within this sector has begun to give positive results. However with competition being so acute, there is a still a great need to improve our product. Excuses can not be the order of the day anymore and complaints by disgruntled visitors do not do us any good. We have improved substantially but still need to perfect our act. Unfortunately some times we just lack the finesse which could make all the difference.

Finally there are those areas that the country has to address as a whole – necessities which are apolitical but very important. Topping the list is our environment. Today’s is a different world to that back in the 60s and the 70s. The more we understand this and do away with outdated practices, which sidelined all environmental issues in the name of progress, the quicker we can get straight to the point and address nagging situations which are doing us no good. There will be other times and places to discuss this.

In the meantime, a happy New Year to all.

Tony Abela is Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.