If facts speak louder than words, it necessarily follows that anyone who thinks of rushing in on the basis of simple hearsay must first verify the facts to save his or her blushes later. This principle applies best to those who seek cheap platforms to criticise any issue that may help them score a few points.
Popularity versus credibility
True political responsibility dictates that one should be cautious about one’s way of seeking more exposure. As the saying goes, ‘comments are free but facts are sacred’. This is, in fact, a well-known axiom to anyone practicing in the legal profession as much as it is to anyone who has or has had ministerial experience. It is much wiser to ascertain the complete facts before making any rushed statements if you aspire to attain some level of credibility and it is even more beneficial if you seek to shoulder further political responsibility at a higher level.
Shooting from the hip leads nowhere, however sanctimonious some frivolous comments are meant to be. Whatever my political remit, I have – and always will – welcomed constructive criticism because it can be helpful to view things from a different or wider angle and adopt the necessary measures to address useful changes.
Unfounded or negative criticism can only cast unnecessary doubts on otherwise factual issues. Damaging as they are meant to be, I disregard such attitudes and go ahead with what needs to be done. However opposing our stand may be, as politicians we must always be true to the facts and avoid the cheaper luxury of seeking temporary popularity at the cost of seasoned credibility.
Meaningful festa season
Thousands of years ago, the first inhabitants of these islands erected sacred edifices to pay homage according to their beliefs. Gozo boasts of one of the best kept temples at Ġgantija, the likes of which are witness to a great era in which the population thought highly of divinity and community cult. After a long lapse of time from the prehistoric colossus, the Christian era brought the erection of churches with enormous edifices that were the highest buildings on the horizon, landmarks in rural areas and very often, in urban districts, characterised by an exhibition of sculptural masonry and architectural charm.
It is part of my public commitment that I regularly attend major functions in all the village feasts in Gozo. It is a way for me to express my appreciation of the hundreds of volunteers who, all year round, work to preserve and embellish the traditional celebrations. We all admire the artistic interior imagery of the churches and the colourful street decorations at festa time and the Gozitan festa offers a varied fare that contrasts with similar celebrations in Europe and elsewhere. It is characterised by a full week of celebrations with church functions, complete with sacred music by local composers for well-rehearsed choirs and orchestras. Festa time is an important component of the island’s attractions, with thousands of visitors crossing over to Gozo and I fully support any initiatives intended to enhance these events.
The younger generation dominates the outdoor celebrations, especially during the band marches. Young people take to the streets and create their own festivies to mark the occasion in style, joining a colourful parade of merry-making accompanying the local bands and the inevitable other sound of fireworks for good measure.
A timely warning
However, such mass celebrations can turn sour without the necessary safeguards when it comes to law and order. The Santa Marija festivities this year broke all records with regard to popular participation, with Gozo Channel ferrying over 50,000 visitors. The annual agricultural and cultural fair was another success, with the Gozo Ministry introducing informative talks and the attendance of the Mobile Dental Clinic, both of which attracted hundreds of visitors.
However popular such festivities can be, they also provide further eye-openers with regard to certain behavioural habits that can be highly detrimental to individuals and families – and to the community in general. Such instances are important for all those who shoulder some kind of responsibility within society. It was therefore a timely warning that, in his homily, Bishop Mario Grech denounced the rampant drug-trafficking at village feasts, calling it ‘humiliating and diabolical’.
Any place where drugs are distributed is of serious concern to political and church leaders. Mgr Grech was very explicit when he said that drugs have become a serious wound on Gozo, a wide net that is catching not just young people but also under-age children. As both a mother and as Minister for Gozo, I share the Bishop’s concerns and I will leave no stone unturned within my remit to combat this threat. In all my efforts to preserve and strengthen Gozo’s social and cultural values, I am determined to protect such impoverished families and to prevent Gozo ending up as a cemetery of psychologically and socially dead people.
The wider side of young people
On a far more positive note, I had the pleasure of meeting the young representatives of the Gozo University Students Group (GUG) at the Gozo Ministry. As a law student myself in the not too distant past, I could fully empathise with their own daily concerns and aspirations, as well as those of their families. Being politically responsible for Gozo, I am now committed to seeking remedies and solutions, in the comfort of knowing Labour’s proposals for our island, with which I have been fully involved.
The frank discussion with the young students revolved around their immediate concerns and suggestions, together with the concrete election proposals that have also been overwhelmingly approved by a Gozitan majority. The Government’s tangible pledges will start being implemented as soon as the 2018 budget is announced in October. The GUG appreciated the fact that discussions with all my Cabinet colleagues have been underway for the past few months in order to have our priorities in place, including schemes aimed at Gozitan students, for their immediate implementation.
I personally enjoyed the broader dimension of a responsible discussion with the young GUG representatives. We dealt with the Government’s plans to address the higher rent challenges for students and their families, the fast ferry service and better use and development of the current university campus in Gozo. By keeping our lines of communication open, similar meetings can help find practical solutions for the benefit of students and their families.