Nowadays the word maladministration is no longer an undermining speculative assertion or a bunch of unfounded allegations waved by the parties in opposition in a poor attempt to diminish or demean the credibility of the government of the day. It has become a day-to-day state of fact in our society and no-one can deny it.

We have a government that is an excellent example of overall mismanagement as well as scarcity of vision, and Dr Lawrence Gonzi is responsible for the actual situation which came into being due to the bad administration of the country over the past years under Nationalist governments. During these last years, was not Dr Gonzi fulfilling the role of Social Policy Minister, and later on occupying the seat of Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister for about five whole years prior to becoming leader of the Nationalist Party in government?

Definitely, Dr Gonzi is not a rookie in politics; not a new face for the local political scenario, likewise the rest of the Nationalist Cabinet; nor is he still in his honeymoon days as Prime Minister. Having been defeated in four local council elections in a row, having suffered crashing defeats in localities ever considered as Nationalist strongholds, as well as having failed badly a full-scale election for the European Parliament, certainly should have rang some sort of alarm-bell, or at least a wake-up buzzer to Dr Gonzi’s administration.

The truth is that Dr Gonzi is a leader of a weak government and ought to take responsibility of the failure of the Nationalist government, and consecutively must act promptly if he really wants to put the national administration back on track.

If the proof of the pudding is in the eating indeed, then Dr Gonzi should commit himself to his very best in order to bring out some dedication towards improving our lives and show us that his party in government can really deliver what has pledged.

It is time to act. No more useless talk, but deeds.

Josef Cachia

Hamrun