It seems that the people of Malta have also endorsed the crude Gozitan saying – Il-gvern jismu Neriku (the government is called Henry – for former Prime Minister Nerik Mizzi). At the end this saying rhymes with a double appeal to abuse the state resources wherever possible.

The list of abuse of state resources in Malta ranges from tax evasion to the misappropriation of all sorts of public goods e.g. private boreholes. The rampage of the social system is at an advanced stage while various individuals, lobbies and holdings mount systematic pressure on our state entities to sacrifice the remaining resources on land and at sea under the pretext of job creation. And this ‘system’ is flourishing thus undermining public trust in all state entities including the judiciary.

It is like having a common back garden for all Maltese to enjoy it. But then some individuals or small groups come along and manage somehow to secure parts of the common garden for their own exclusive use. Burdens are not equally shared. Some pigs are more equal than others. What is behind this phenomenon? Greed cannot explain everything. Greed exists elsewhere in Northern Europe but there people seem to respect the common good much higher. Maltese enjoy travelling to these parts of the world exactly because of the order and cleanliness that prevail in public places.

In Malta one notices that dividing lines start fading while goalposts are abruptly changed (reduction of ODZ in 2006) and warning signals are arbitrarily ignored. Legislators refrain from cutting straight lines out of fear of infuriating their constituents. Hunters and trappers for instance have been given huge loopholes to continue with their pastime whenever they like. Exceeding existing lines has become a public sport. Encroaching on common public spaces is steadily budding into a passion. Building higher than allowed and closing the few remaining open spaces have developed into an obsession.

Is there a national inferiority complex behind all this? Sort of Tom Thumb wishing to look great and dominant showing he is much bigger than his diminutive size? Does the politician wish to look more generous when in fact the state pockets are empty? It is evident that this generation is depleting resources for generations to come. While our sons and daughters may politely blame us, our grandsons and granddaughters will curse us for this.

Agnes Debono

Kercem