From Mr C. J. Buttigieg
In his speech at the PN annual general conference, Godfrey Pullicino Orlando said he hoped for an election tomorrow. It appears that the majority of people’s fervour for a change has started rubbing off even on some of the PN exponents albeit for different reasons.
Deep down, the electorate at large want an honest and caring administration but a sizeable portion of the electorate is at times blinded by propaganda that distorts their judgment.
The promise that Malta will become a heaven on earth after joining the EU was typical of the PN; likewise their “Feel good” campaign coupled with expensive mail shots paid by the taxpayers.
For an ongoing strategy, they concocted a concerted effort to sell pie in the sky and instead of giving steak they sell the sizzle. And, in the process they try to label Labour as being “prophets of doom’
On the other hand, the progressive Labour Party has always called a spade a spade, moved with the times and never abandoned its basic principles.
Since its inception the Malta Labour Party had never turned its eyes away from realities both when in Opposition as well as in government. In spite of Malta’s limitations in the period between 1971 and 1987, Labour built a common wealth society out of a British colony dependant on military spending which was the envy of other former colonial States. Alas it was diluted by the different PN administrations over the years with changes to develop a market economy, which, although beneficial to larger economies, has left the Maltese consumer unprotected from cartels.
Before the 1970s the rich were becoming richer and the poor poorer and when Labour was elected in 1971 Dom Mintoff had to embark on an aggressive programme to change Malta to a welfare state within a new democratic Republic. Naturally some elements of the Socialist programme fell short of the desired expectations and needed fine-tuning and even radical overhauling. Typical was the embargo on some imported products and the bulk buying system. A despotic regime would have insisted on its mistakes but, Labour mended, overhauled and changed.
During the process of a revolution, change is drastic and fast tracked contrary to a period of evolution when change is made in a more tranquil mode. And the 1970s was the epoch of a bloodless revolution.
Before 1971, sick leave, annual leave, pensions and other social benefits, which are taken for granted today, were non-existent. We had a situation where top brass in the civil service enjoyed 60 and more days of annual paid leave while the vast majority of workers worked a six-day week, had no sick leave and only six days annual leave. Those in the private sector were even less fortunate. It had to be a Labour government to pioneer the conditions we enjoy today.
Some of the public holidays that were removed as part of the streamlining process were later reintroduced when the economic climate improved, the rest were given back to us by the Fenech Adami administration to be taken away by Dr Gonzi’s.
Indeed, since its inception, the Malta Labour Party initiated, worked on and developed a policy structure based on its aims and principles. Over the years, Labour grew strong because its goals were attainable, realistic and practical, and action plans were drawn up and executed to provide a good quality of life.
Each Labour principle was and still is a vehicle to solve the people’s day to day difficulties; for work, democracy, education, health and social services. Hence, Labour developed its aims within the parameters of the historical changes of Malta and the rest of the world.
“Plan for a new beginning”, Labour’s extensive document, is based on these solid foundations and give us a blue print of things to come after the general election in the foreseeable future.
Headed by Dr Alfred Sant, the tenacious champion of these principles, the upcoming new Labour government will steer us back to a caring and equitable welfare state, and free from institutionalised corruption.
Charles J. Buttigieg
MELLIEHA