These past two weeks were dedicated to presidents.

Former US President George W. Bush has left the world in a full crisis and a financial disaster that seems is going to last longer. It was something that originated from his country, and it has affected all the world.

The newly installed President Barack Obama should give the world a much needed uplift, a feel good feeling, a let’s make it work again approach. Yes we can, he preached all through last year. Now is the time to show the meaning of things, and he has to lead by example.

Close to home we have our own new president designate, and we do welcome George Abela. Much was debated on the media before the announcement of his nomination, thus compelling our prime minister to act fast in the face of an increasing media premature attention.

Well, now all is sorted after having been well debated and the future beckons. We should always look to the future now, rather than put in our ifs and buts. The world has enough of these ifs and buts, and we are to concentrate on the crisis we feel all around us. Even if it does scratch us, it will still hurt us, as our size does not permit us to absorb shocks. We must be more aggressive in marketing Malta, in going to get our piece of cake in all spheres, in all segments that ultimately provide our nation and its workers with the bread and butter.

Our financial base, the switch to the euro by a Nationalist government – and which was not wanted by the Labour Party – was in fact a perfect decision. If we had stayed out of the eurozone, we would have been left out in the cold in this disaster. Only this week we hear of further help to a United Kingdom bank, and possibly more intervention in other banks. If this crisis still has to deepen, then we are far from out of the tunnel.

On another note, hats off to my colleague Jason Azzopardi who, after only a few months in office, took it into his stride, as part of his remit, to tackle the question of the Magic Kiosk in Sliema. We, who really live in Sliema, know the story, and the place very well. Jason did not promise anything in the past and just worked on it to get down to things. The thanksgiving, if ever there should be one, goes to Jason Azzopardi and his department. Never, ever did anybody act as fast as he did. Humbly enough Jason had no letters praising him. Therefore I feel honoured to thank him publicly, and redress such a situation.

The rent reform bill and discussion in Parliament is in its full at the moment. Amended legislation, again overdue, after many white papers, is soon to see the light of day. It is a balanced reform, threading on ice with all components put in, is a step in the right direction. Again it’s a Nationalist government that has taken the matter in hand, worked on it, and completed the job.

Well, without wanting, it seems that the Nationalists keep coming up with the goods.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP