As they ring out the Old Year, the people of these islands would be wondering what the New Year holds in store. Having completed their stock-taking for the year 2005, they would be peering into the future, when our parliamentary system will be put to the test, taking the measure of the maturity of our political class.

As an independent state, Malta has assumed responsibility for its own survival in competition with other countries. It has to live on its own earnings, in the full knowledge that no one owes it a living.

All of this imposes its imperatives. Increasingly and systematically, all the social partners in these islands must come round to realise the necessity of a change in their psychological outlook, and of pulling the same rope, in order to upgrade their administrative and managerial system, their economic infrastructure, and their productive resources.

Slow process

Changing the psychological outlook is a slow process. Considering that, on attaining independence, Malta’s challenge was to switch from a fortress to a market economy, our initial overall performance deserves a fair pass mark. Malta registered progressive steps towards liberalisation and outward looking initiatives in search of footholds in overseas markets.

Confidence gave us an impulse and a motive for further growth. And the revised policies of the Malta Labour Party, under the leadership of Dr Alfred Sant, supporting private enterprise and promoting market forces in the mid-nineties, were important positive factors in the context of this psychological change.

Pluralism opened new horizons for public opinion and the emergence of the floating vote, as a significant political force, helped to change the national outlook.

New vistas

Malta’s accession to Europe has also opened new vistas yet to unfold.

It has been, by no means, plain sailing all the way. The government overplayed its hand by persistent deficit spending. Malta was burdened by a structural deficit and a mountain of debt. It got no help from its bureaucracy, notorious for dragging its feet and looking after its own.

Recent years saw a steep rise in taxation and the prospect of tough austerity measures.

Members of Parliament on both sides of the House now have to decide whether Maltese politics are to be weaned of polarisation and of the partisan divisions of the past, and whether they could be conducive to new efforts to work together, in a bid to break into the wide open spaces where opportunities await our economy.

It is within their power to agree on formulas that would make it possible for a bi-partisan approach on issues that promote the national interest and strengthen the economy of these islands,

It is time for them to consider providing more space for the social partners, and for technical experts to be drawn in promoting initiatives designed to foster growth and to give momentum to Malta’s aspirations in the technological and managerial spheres.

Action and Priorities

Rather than trying to justify past policies faulted by mal-administration and profligacy – part of which was hidden from the public eye –now is the time to define an agreed sense of direction, to draw up, at least, a tentative plan of action, and to decide on priorities.

Malta has passed through a phase of disillusionment and despondency, some of which was self-inflicted. It would be counter-productive and, in the long run, harmful if those who inflicted the damage by omission and commission were to be shielded. At a minimum, they should be put out of harm’s way.

Equally, it would be an invitation to disaster of Malta ‘s immediate future were to be administered, by guess and by God, by a tired administration without checks and balances.

It is time for the two parties represented in Parliament to live up to the spirit of the times, and to devise effective and efficient formulas to deploy Malta’s scarce resources to maximum profit..

The two parties must work together, committing themselves to the prudent husbandry of our economic potential.

Unless the two parties find a way to paddle the same canoe, Malta will pay the added price of mischief.

The year 2006 is a year of high stakes for Malta, Politicians will be in the frontline.

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