As expected, Leo Brincat's competence and integrity were never questioned throughout the process of his nomination to the European Court of Auditors.

It follows that partisan interests were more important for the Opposition than the national interest. The fact that PN Maltese MEPS had opposed his nomination confirmed that the Opposition was set on playing political games rather than safeguarding the country’s interests.

Considering the constant pattern of opposing anything for the sake of opposing, it was not much of a surprise that, for the umpteenth time, a so-called 'nationalist' party went diametrically against the very concept of what national values are all about. 

 

Politics is not a game

A serious Opposition would have worked to support Malta in all international fora and wherever necessary, as the Labour Party, when in Opposition, had done in past legislatures with the previous three nominees for a EU post, in spite of any serious reservations there could have been.

Politics is not a game. It has principles and values.  Working against one's own country and those who democratically represent it, and – to add insult to injury – conspiring in prompting others to follow suit, is certainly beyond any level of acceptable behaviour. Putting one's own interests before that of the nation's is a clear disregard of the very basics of political honesty. It all confirms that an equally democratically elected Opposition lost all boundaries of what national loyalty means.

 

Short-sighted

The Opposition has also resorted to the tactic of persuading others to support their passion to harm the country and its government at any cost. Politicians who cheer such negative outcomes are very short-sighted as there may come a time when they will not be taken seriously by those same people who applaud them now for being so negative.

They have maliciously manoeuvred against a fellow Maltese when this has never happened since Malta joined the EU in 2004. Scoring partisan points now will eventually be meaningless in the long run. People are intelligent enough to size up those who enjoy being negative and evaluate the whole picture vis-á-vis the national interest. What caused the consultative vote at the European Parliament last Tuesday is nothing but the sabotage of internal political discourse in a sovereign member state for misguided partisan reasons!

 

A successful pilot-project

Nearer to home, our plans and initiatives in the elderly and disability sectors keep their steady pace with positive developments. New measures always need time to mature and develop. The pilot-project for a live-in carer scheme within the community care for the elderly is a case in point. 

Nine months after it was launched in the 2016 budget speech, it turned out to be a useful initiative that attracted a lot of interest among older people. Although already listed to be admitted into a State's home for the elderly, there are many who opt and afford to remain within their own family surroundings and benefit from this new scheme to employ a qualified carer of their choice.

What was initially an experiment has developed fast and we are in the process of expanding further in the coming months and adapting it according to the experience gathered over the months so that more people can benefit from it. Older people who choose to spend their later years in the community can select a qualified carer – whom we have been training to professional levels – with an appropriate employment contract, approved by the Department for Elderly and Community Care to ensure full adherence to work conditions, and benefit from a maximum annual support of €4,500. 

 

More job opportunities

The scheme has been taken up by an encouraging number of applicants, which would increase with some more leeway to improve it, in the near future. The interest shown has created more job opportunities for trained carers and we are currently planning to ensure that supply meets the demand.

We have in fact launched a call to all qualified carers who wish to join this project to include their name on a specific register. It will help older people choosing this scheme to select the person they prefer and who is available to take up such employment. One step leads to another and all this encourages my Parliamentary Secretariat to introduce further training courses for carers in Malta and Gozo, with the additional benefit of having accreditation by the University of Malta.

 

Caritas and the elderly

Caritas is without doubt the most significant church symbol of voluntary work among the most vulnerable in our society. Wednesday saw a packed Mdina Cathedral with hundreds of older people, with whom I was proud to attend the annual Mass organised by Caritas. I have always stated that voluntary organisations are of huge support to all government efforts in these sectors. 

 Archbishop Cremona's kind words during the concelebrated Mass echoed – from the religious aspect –  our full commitment to ensure full rights of independence and full human dignity to our senior citizens. It is our constant commitment to secure dignified and quality care and provide the necessary measures for empowerment through active ageing.

 

Follow-up to the Slovakia visit

When I was invited last June to deliver a speech at St Elizabeth University in Bratislava, Slovakia I endeavoured to expand on various areas of cooperation in the elderly and disability sectors. Besides the highest award the University's senate bestowed on me, talks were held with senior academic and government officials, considering also the fact that together with The Netherlands and Slovakia, Malta will take up the EU Presidency between 2017 and 2018.

It will be my pleasure this weekend to meet the University's Rector, Prof. Vladimir Krcmery for follow-up talks in Malta. Together with my collaborators, we will explore more avenues for further cooperation, given also that they look up to us for what we have already achieved in supporting vulnerable persons in our society. Prof. Krcmery will also visit Ta' Pinu Sanctuary, a shrine he is very keen to personally experience during his tour of the renowned Basilica in Gozo.

 

The elderly's digital skills

Introducing older people to active ageing proved very beneficial for them, as they discovered the world of modern technology which added further skills when communicating with others. It was an interesting clue my Secretariat followed last August after holding an online competition among the elderly for the most liked photo they post on a purposely set Facebook page. It was a simple concept that encouraged them to come up with photographic ideas to express their ideas on how to combat the summer heat.

The competition came to an end last week and the initiative turned out to be of popular interest to older people who are conversant with the social media. Besides furthering their digital and photographic skills, it also helped them as relatives and friends became aware of their talents. 

Although on a much smaller scale than any other major project we realise, it was in itself an exercise for older people – whether residents in homes for the elderly or still living within their communities – to express their zeal and, why not, boast of their newly acquired abilities. Their efforts send out a clear message to all of us in Malta and Gozo that older people are keen to join hands and give their precious share in building a society that acknowledges everyone's value and dignity – a truly fair society!