It is hard to believe that 2008, with all its trials and tribulations is over. As the clock strikes midnight, we will enter a new year, 2009, leaving 2008 to the history books.
And it has been quite a year. The beginning of 2008 saw Malta joining the Eurozone, adopting the euro currency, with the general public taking to the new notes and coins like ducks to water. Following that, weeks of electoral uncertainty were brought to a close with the settling of one of the closest run national elections Malta has seen, with the PN garnering a very small majority of close to 1,500 votes.
The result saw the stalwart political leader Alfred Sant resign after the defeat, allowing him to fully concentrate on his recovery from cancer. We understand that his battle goes on and we truly wish him well for 2009.
The election also saw another stalwart leave, former PN secretary general Joe Saliba. Mr Saliba served his party well for years, helping lead it to three successive general election victories. He is missed by the party and we hope that he can contribute to Malta’s future in some capacity.
In addition, we saw Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi embark on a freshening up exercise in his cabinet of ministers – a case of out with the old and in with the new. The electorate has long yearned for this change, but we should also remember that many of these former ministers and junior ministers offered valuable service to their country and they should be accorded respect for that.
Of course, these resignations led to opportunities new for others. PL leader Joseph Muscat swept to victory within the party ranks, seeing off very valid challenges from Michael Falzon and the charismatic lawyer George Abela.
The two former deputies, Dr Falzon and Charles Mangion also gave up their mantles and made way for Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia. It’s still strange to note that the PL delegates plumped for the young and fresh Joe Muscat, only to put aside viable candidates such as Gavin Gulia, Chris Cardona, Carmelo Abela, yet we wish them well and we hope that the two deputies give their leader the support he needs to improve the party for within the create a stronger and more relevant opposition bench, for the good of the country.
In the same vein, PL secretary general Jason Micallef has been in and out of the news with speculation over his future spilling onto the news pages in relation to his role in view of new appointments within the party. No doubt, 2009 will tell us more. Another servant who left the scene in 2008 was former Speaker of the House Anton Tabone, another person who has spent many years of service.
Migrants came and went, some being re-settled in other European countries as well as the United States. They will keep coming, and perhaps Malta will pay more of a price due to its not being hit by recession... yet.
Speaking of the United States, Malta will soon have to bid goodbye to the popular ambassador Molly Bordonaro who will relinquish her political appointment once the new US administration’s staff comes in.
2008 also saw some servants slip away for good, former President Anthony Mamo, a true gent and the first President of Malta. He passed away at the just short of 100 – aged 99. His soul is surely being guarded well. The popular MP and doctor Karl Chircop was another very sad loss, leaving behind four young children and a wife to mourn him. The people’s thoughts are still surely with them. 2009 will be the same, new people will come onto the scene and more will leave. Life is merely but a cycle and we are all players in the biggest game we know.