As the year closes, and we all look forward to the new one coming in, we tend to look back for a while and then try and imagine what 2006 will bring.

By all means, 2005 was a good foundation for our future. It finished with a bang. f805 million is not petty cash. It is far greater than the small and petty amount of Lm1.5 million in kontanti (ready money). You surely remember Labour poking fun at us for such a miserly sum. Today, and after yet another U-turn on Europe, they are probably saying that the sum could have been more.

Had they had their wish, and the partnership dream, then we would have had nothing. Diehard labour voters put the blame for all possible woes on Europe. This year, and in the future, they will continue to blame Europe, as they succumb to further future defeats in general elections.

This money is the largest amount ever pledged to Malta and the government has already laid out its plans as to what to do with it and how to spend it for the benefit of the people.

These funds will be operative in 2007 and therefore our Maltese mentality has to be adjusted. The preparation of projects, time-frames, know-how and quality are the order of the day.

We have sampled some of these funds in our new roads. Here, the opposition was not heard – only because it did not even open its mouth, not even to congratulate a new Malta and a new mentality. How political.

In 2005, we had our Prime Minister in dialogue with Blair, with Bush, with all EU leaders, the Queen, and playing host to the CHOGM leaders. What a far cry from those years when a labour leader and Prime Minister was meeting with the likes of the leaders of North Korea and such. What a difference in Malta. Do you want to go back to those years, remembering the 1970s, as suggested by some opposition leaders? You may do, by voting labour, or you may continue to back progress by sticking to the Nationalist party.

Going back means more of Tony Zarb, and the General Workers Union. The Labour Party, along with their privileged partners, will only stall Malta once again. What progress is to strike, and to endanger jobs?

One thing we can rely on, in 2006, with peace and democracy, without the daily hustles, a PN Government gets with it.

Like it or hate it, facts are facts. You are always better off with a Nationalist Government. A Happy New Year to all our readers, and their families. May your wishes come true.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP