It has emerged that Malta is among a few European Union member states where the severe material deprivation rate increased between 2008 and 2012. The rate went up by 4.5%. Other countries where the deprivation rate went up were Greece, Lithuania and Hungary.

The increase, in part, was created by the massive hike in water and electricity rates which were brought in by the previous administration, and National Statistics figures on both poverty and in inflation confirmed as much.

In fact, the NSO points out that there are some 90,000 people in Malta who are at risk of poverty. That means that they cannot afford to buy meat, fish or chicken (or a vegetarian equivalent) every other day. It also means that they cannot afford to adequately heat their homes in winter, to buy suitable clothing and to enjoy a decent standard of living.

Normally, these figures are issued in percentages, but when the actual figure is worked out, the magnitude of it hits you in the face. Out of a country of about 410,000 people, there are 90,000 who cannot afford what most people take for granted.

The new Presidency has pledged to work to eradicate poverty in Malta and the Head of State is doing all she can to address the issue in a non executive manner. Of this, the country should be proud and we are certain that the effort put in by President Colerio Preca will be her legacy to Malta.

But we must also look at what the government is doing. Despite the blips, Joseph Muscat's government is paying attention to the issue of poverty as well as the wealth gap. This was evident in the last budget were several measures to help deprived families live a decent life and provide for their children.

Some believe that poverty is a perception. Some believe that because their lot is comfortable and because we do not see people out begging on the streets that, poverty is not real. Nothing could be further from the truth. Poverty is real. It exists. It lives amongst us and continues to creep around families day after day. When you cannot afford to pay your bills, clothe your family or feed them adequately, it becomes increasingly clear that something in our society is wrong. It is the same the world over. The gap between the super rich and the poor continues to grow. And those who fall into poverty are finding it harder and harder to get back on their feet in this increasingly competitive world (and country) that we live in. We owe it to ourselves and our society to try and bridge that gap and to try and make sure that the number of people who cannot make ends meet is brought down drastically.