Some, as expected, publicly claim that the Labour Government has set course on the wrong footing from day one. Conversely, others argue that Government is on track and ready to take corrective measures notwithstanding the blushes.  The truth is that many are prepared to turn the blind eye, but for how long will this goes on is anyone’s guess. The PL should stop taking risks. An insignificant issue may upset the apple cart when least expected.    

Let me pen some points which Government could have easily handled better.  Put aside the smell the coffee comment, which did not earn Malta any points. The Individual Investor Programme, popularly known as the sale of our citizenship, was launched world-wide against the counsel and the objections of many, including some from within the PL ranks. The end result was that the IIP had to be revisited and amended at minimum three times in a very short span of time. Let’s call this over-zealous.  

Not long after, a motion moved by shadow minister for education Joe Cassar to repeal the legal notice which provided for the education minister to request all personal data about students was debated in the House of Representatives and defeated. However, the Minister for Education had a change of heart and recently announced that the approved legal notice will not, after all, come into force.  Instead, a public consultation period was launched. Clearly, the debate in Parliament was stage managed and far from genuine on Government’s side. Let’s call this putting the cart before the horse.    

Lately, Local Councils elections were brought on the national agenda. Some months ago Government, in agreement with the Opposition, granted 16-year olds the right to participate in local councils elections. This, alas, is not to be. The party in Opposition, though cash-strapped, is putting a strong case in defence of democracy. The young, promising, soft-spoken Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government Owen Bonnici launched a four-week consultation period after it was amply clear that Government had all intentions to cancel the forthcoming local councils’ elections.Electoral fatigue and cutting costs are too feeble excuses. Unfortunately for Minister Bonnici, he is left to carry the can alone once again. Let’s call this a see-through alibi.  

Simultaneously, statistics were published by the National Statistics Office and the Eurostat. Figures are very revealing. These figures are compared with the corresponding months of last year. They are also compared with the economic performance of other countries both in the euro zone area and the rest of the EU countries.  As on most other important national issues, but depending on which side of the fence one may be sitting, people are regaled with one set of figures but two completely different readings of the same figures.  Finance Minister Edward Scicluna last Saturday claimed that government finances are on track and in line with the projections laid down in the 2014 budget. He supported his stand by further quoting other figures. A day before, former PN Finance Minister Tonio Fenech did just the opposite.  He claimed government's financial targets were seriously off track. He did not stop short from throwing more figures to prove his point.  I trust people out there cannot make up their mind.  Who of the two is reading the economic figures correctly is another wild guess.

The fiscal deficit, the national debt, employment levels, foreign direct investment, gross domestic product, retail sales, exports and imports levels and many other indicative figures all throw light on the performance of our economy. These figures are important to establish the proper economic strengths and weaknesses of the economy.  Unfortunately, these figures are being constantly interpreted differently, at times incredulously. People out there would prefer to have a true, clear picture of the state of the economy. I am certain that, away from the cameras and journalists, both gentlemen would be prepared to tell you more of their concerns to save a small economy just after a world-wide deep recession with the right corrective measures. The economic performance has a direct link between the economic activity and the well-being of people. The business community and the trade unions are the least impressed with comments of the sort. Their hands-on approach makes it easier for them to understand and analyse the economic figures. Whetting the appetite of the business community and trade unions with a rosy picture on the eve of next year’s budget is hardly wise.  Let’s call this not calling a spade a spade.

While I write, I’m listening to the inimitable Phil Collins.  Incidentally, Collins has been cited in the British media as being a supporter of the Conservative Party and an opponent of the Labour Party. In 1992, on the day of the general election in the UK, it was reported that Collins was among several celebrities who were planning to leave Britain in the event of a Labour victory. "If Kinnock wins today will the last person to leave Britain please turn out the lights" the article said.  Can you feel it coming in the air tonight?

 

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