If the last few months have been bumpy for the Prime Minister, this week has surely been the opposite. Far from the controversies that have plagued the Prime Minister’s Cabinet and Parliamentary Group, Dr Gonzi has proved beyond any doubt that he is a strong captain not only in calm seas but most importantly when the going gets tough.
Few will deny that Malta has been hit by the recession, and our businesses as well as our households have been feeling the pinch.
Few will ignore the receipt of higher electricity and water bills.
Few will forget the controversy that surrounded the government’s decision to forge ahead with plans for City Gate, a new Parliament building and an open air theatre.
The truth is that Dr Gonzi has not had an easy 2010. Some tough decisions had to be taken, and more often than not these decisions have been fiercely criticised again and again. Dr Gonzi had to see that we do not spiral down into a second Greece. Dr Gonzi had to see that Malta’s deficit remains within safe limits.
Nonetheless, this week the Prime Minister can feel vindicated. His hard work is slowly paying off. An investment of up to €200 million will not only create 800 new jobs but will also change the face of sport for our islands.
The White Rocks project is unique not only in the amount of money being invested but also in the fact that the government will not be spending a cent on its creation. The plans speak for themselves. The degree of relief in the comments of sports commentators and organisations marks a new era for sport in Malta.
It is great to be a young sportsman or woman with such prospects. Projects like this do not happen out of the blue. They do not happen by coincidence. They happen because there is a vision, because there is a plan, and because there is synergy. And, please, allow me to also credit Clyde Puli, the architect behind this project.
Indeed it was a pleasure to note that, while on a trip to Libya this week – a trip that recognised Malta’s contribution to resolving the dispute between Libya and Switzerland regarding the Schengen rules – our Prime Minister was also invited to watch a World Cup match with Colonel Gaddafi and President Berlusconi. We all recall that, Malta, together with Italy and Spain, was categorical in its support of the Libyans. Although small, we have once again proved that our voice is not only heard but also relevant in the EU. Size will not determine our resolve nor our reaction when we feel strongly about an issue. The strong sense of reason imparted by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg was fundamental to resolving the issue.
Once again, the Prime Minister has shown that he can steer Malta even in the middle of an international dispute that could have had serious economic repercussions on our islands.
Despite the rough start to 2010, Dr. Gonzi is proving his characteristics as a leader more than ever before. Determination and consistency, with lots of patience and the right timing, have brought him the two successes this week that cannot go unnoticed.
Both at home and abroad Dr Gonzi has scored a doppietta!
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Ms Portelli is the president of the PN Executive Council