I am writing this in January, nearly a full year before the next solidarity campaign known as l-Istrina, during which funds are raised in aid of the Community Chest Fund. I do not want to be accused of trying to scupper what is, after all, an occasion to help people in need, one that brings the whole nation – or most of it – together in a show of generosity.

But something is not quite right in the way things are developing, and my intention is to speak about it now in the hope that matters are rectified. There is enough time to do it.

One aspect I never liked in the past was the distribution of gifts in exchange of donations. Inviting people to donate money by offering them the possibility to win a car, a washing machine or a voucher was not the correct way. Donations became just like buying another lottery ticket in the hope of winning something in return.

Thankfully, one of the first things that George Abela did when he took office as President was to remove the gifts system. There were many who criticised him for doing so, believing that the money donated towards people in need would drastically diminish because of this move. They were proved wrong and Dr Abela was proved right. The distribution of gifts was eliminated, but the people’s generosity grew. Year after year, a new record was set.

But now it seems that we are slowly going back to where we were before, that is offering incentives for money to be donated.

Late last year, it was announced that companies donating more than €2,000 would benefit from a tax reduction. That, in itself, is a “gift” the government gave to companies wanting to join the campaign, in exchange for a donation. To me, it seems like a first step towards going back to the time before the George Abela presidency.

This scheme, if one were to call it that, means that the so-called Maltese coffers will be receiving less money from companies who would have probably donated the money to l-Istrina anyway, just to be seen doing so on TV by half of Malta. Once again, the “gift” concept has made its way into the solidarity campaign. I will not be surprised if this is expanded when l-Istrina is held in late 2015.

(By the way, something that irks me is the use of L-istrina on what has traditionally become a Boxing Day activity. L-istrina is New Year’s Day, not 26 December.)

There is another side to the story which has not been publicised, and this is also of great concern. Some companies approached before the 2014 campaign were told, verbally, that giving a donation would also open up the opportunity for the said company to make use of a public place falling under the responsibility of the presidency for a private function, possibly against giving another donation. Again, this is something with which I cannot agree, especially the part of using what is after all public property for functions that have nothing to do with the presidency.

The fund-raising campaign in aid of the Community Chest Fund should remain. So many people have benefited from the money donated. But the element of solidarity should not be tarnished with incentives for people to donate.

I just hope that the tax reduction offered in 2014 will be just a one-off occasion, and not a first step towards reopening the “L-istrina lottery” again.