As the Nationalist era nears its end, we do well to analyse the hype spinned skilfully and maliciously by their media over the last three decades or so. Indeed, had we to accept their assertions one would tend to believe that everything Labour did was wrong.
The emergence of the Labour government in 1971 was undoubtedly a break with the colonial past. Although Malta had been given Constitutional independence in 1964, the situation in 1971 was very different from what the Nationalists try to make us believe. Our economy was still highly dependent on the British Services’ spending. Our communications with the rest of the world were still run by cable and wireless. The most important bank in Malta, Barclays, was a British bank. The highest political office that of Governor General, was occupied by an English civil servant. Certain parts of the islands were closed off to the Maltese, and so on and so forth.
Not only so, but the economic situation was such, that there was a substantial part of the Maltese population living in poverty or near poverty. You could still see beggars on our streets in 1971. Given all this, it was very understandable then, that the Labour government would put as its priority the abolishing of poverty, by building a welfare system that was the envy of other more wealthy nations, and at the same time successfully building an economy to support it.
The economic policy of the Labour government had two main aims; that of ridding our economy from the dependence on British military expenditure, and of building an industrial base to fuel the economy. Tourism also fared well, becoming another pillar of the economy. To support these activities, Labour made strides in revamping the financial sector with the introduction of Mid-Med and BOV, and initiated other financial services, especially insurance. Air Malta was created to support tourism, while Sea Malta to support industry. The slogan then was: Build, build, build!
In this economically optimistic environment, the highly socially-committed Labour government built a welfare system to support its belief that you build bottom up, involving everyone in the progressive development of the nation. The necessity of a sound social awareness was the beginning of an overall richer society, with social security, health, education and housing, as its main building blocks. And this at the same time as ridding Malta from its dependence on the employment offered by the British forces and building a sound economy. Labour’s priorities were clear. Build, build, build!
Surprisingly then, looking at things today; especially at the economic and social difficulties that we are facing as a nation; then, how come that all voices from the Nationalist and their buddies’ spin, tell us that there was never so much wealth in Malta? How can this be even remotely true, when so many working people are just making ends meet? Why so many reports, some of them even commissioned by the same authorities, are raising the alarm that a substantial part of our society is living on the verge of poverty? Not only so, but everything that has to do with social security is also eroding fast. MAM for example tells us that the health service is collapsing. All this, while the same administration is dismantling the infrastructure that sustained an economic strategy that worked.
They accuse us of rhetoric when we talk of Sea Malta, Air Malta, Middlesea, Mid-Med, BOV and so many other viable initiatives. However, who decided to close Sea Malta, when today we know well enough that its books were correct on the value of its assets? Has not the cost of shipping for our industry gone up and not down as promised? Under whose administration has Air Malta squandered its reserves on a non-starter fleet, leaving the company in dire straits and unable to fend in the present climate of the industry. Who sold Mid-Med Bank at a pittance of what it was worth? Who, unwisely so, sold MIA? The list goes on and on, as does the Nationalist habit of: Demolish, demolish, demolish!
Looking over the years from the seventies onwards, one can clearly identify those who built and those who demolished. Labour has built on the foundations of social justice, while the Nationalist administrations, hooked on a false interpretation of the rule of the fittest, have created a prosperity for some and misery for the rest.
My biggest preoccupation today still remains poverty. Today’s world seems to be somewhat different from that of the seventies and eighties. Poverty and social exclusion may today appear to take other forms but poverty and social exclusion they remain. Solutions do have to be different, but rest assured that Labour is determined to get Malta out of this bad spin and set it on a route founded on social justice and prosperity.
Labour will build, build and build, yet again.
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Dr Michael Falzon is the MLP Deputy Leader for Party Affairs.