Today I thought I start this article with a deserved credit to the 1st Hamrun Scout Group for their achievements during the first hundred years of sterling service to our community. Indeed, last Sunday the 1st Hamrun Scout Group commemorated this prestigious anniversary with an activity which will long be remembered by those present.       

“On my honour I promise that I will do my best

To do my duty to God and my Country;

To help other people at all times;

To obey the Scout Law.”

 

This is the Scout Promise, a guiding value and the driving principle which are of great significance both to those within the Scout movement and to the community.  In my opinion these should continue to be promoted amongst the widest possible groups of children and young adults.   

Going back to local challenges a number of hot issues are taking shape simultaneously on the national agenda. I will attempt to address some.       

It is common knowledge that the gay community has mounted substantial pressure within our society, not least within political parties, during the past months. Without going into the merits of the issue, the gay community have lobbied in favour of their cause and now they have it black on white.  The gay community should be proud of this achievement.  I firmly believe that no one has a right to interfere in others’ lives.

The only concern I raise is, if and when a gay or lesbian couple decides to adopt a child. I do not question their quality of parenthood, but the child’s ability to grow in a same sex partnership unit in a small and blinkered society such as ours. Hopefully our small community is capable to accept such a step without putting children adopted by same sex couples under unbearable pressures which may include bullying, victimisation, harassment or intimidation of various forms.  Our society is duty bound to legalise in favour of gay civil partnership, but it is also obliged to protect children.  International professional studies on this issue give conflicting conclusions, if not outright contrary. A study tailor-made to our local environment and structures should help our parliamentarians take the right decisions in the best interest of adopted children by gay or lesbian couples, the gay community, and society.  This may help our parliamentarians to take informed decisions while at the same time help to prepare society handle such a sensitive issue if our parliament approves this right. Our society should not let vulnerable children swim in deep waters alone but must resort to professional advice and guidance before decisions are taken and the future of children is left to chance.  Professionals have a duty to speak out now before commitments are made as this issue goes beyond partisan politics and religious mores. 

Another hot potato currently hotly debated locally is the issue of immigrants. ‘Migration Flows’ was the last subject addressed in the final conclusions of last week’s European Council.  Four short paragraphs were dedicated to this issue, with the last one claiming that the European Council will return to asylum and migration issues in a broader and longer term policy perspective in June 2014, when strategic guidelines for further legislative and operational planning in the area of freedom, security and justice will be defined.  In the meantime, a Task Force will report to the European Council in December 2014. 

As is attested by the EU Summit conclusions, our Prime Minister unfortunately returned home empty handed.  Notwithstanding the public threats by our Prime Minister to halt proceedings unless concrete measures are determined during the Summit, any definite solidarity action by the EU is now postponed to June of next year.  This has now resulted in loss of credentials to Malta.  Threats are certainly not the tools of diplomacy.  Persuasion and tact, rather than foot stomping, will yield better outcomes.   The high expectations which our Prime Minister has projected during the last weeks on immigration were short-lived, and the Summit has revealed the amateurishness of Malta’s leadership.          

Another blow during the last week was dealt by the National Statistics Office.  An excerpt from its recently published press release indicated a year-on-year rise in unemployment, with an increase of 851 persons (13.6 per cent) registering under Part 1 and a drop of 101 (16.1per cent) registering under Part 2 of the unemployment register. The number of unemployed has now reached 7,619.  This is a cause for concern.  Whatever weight one puts on this number, the level of unemployment needs to be addressed and curbed before this starts to pick up a steady pace. Employment is the result of economic growth and leads to a better quality of life and a sustainable system of social assistance.

Money is often too tight to mention, so the classified section of this and other newspapers is often scoured for bargains.   Properties, second-hand vehicles and a wide range of goods for sale and an abundant choice of services are advertised. Small adverts for a small fee. And a small source of revenue to combat the creeping costs of any publishing house.

Hopefully, the sale of our national citizenship would not find a place in the classified sections of any newspaper.  At €650,000 in exchange for Maltese citizenship, the beneficiary will acquire freedom of movement across all European Union countries.  Beneficiaries will also enjoy anonymity.  

Irrespective of the fee paid, the sale of our citizenship to whoever can afford the price makes my blood boil. If anything, the sale of our citizenship should be tied first and foremost to those who are willing to publicly identify themselves with Malta and who are prepared to invest a substantial amount of their fortune in our economy thus creating new employment.

Our citizenship is one of the most valuable assets in our society.  Our citizenship is our identity and though at times we may not appreciate it as much as we should, it should not be sold to raise cash.  This would be sending the wrong message to present and future generations that our identity can be bought for cash. 

The fast-tracked measure to sell our citizenship will unfortunately strip Malta of its national pride. This time our Government is not selling our silver as has been repeated on many occasions by the PL when in Opposition but selling our soul and national identity.

 

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