This past month has been taken over by the divorce referendum. Well, it came after some four weeks of ping pong discussions from both fronts that frankly were not very clear to my reading, as they only helped to confuse the electorate

The Church did its part, its best, and some of its exponents may have overcooked the fillet steak. As I said in the Parliament debate before voting, our responsibility starts after the voting result, after the people’s free choice, which was made clear on Saturday.

We now have to take notice of all segments of voters: The ‘Yes’ vote, the ‘No’ vote, and why so many stayed away from expressing their preference. This will be left to speculation, rather than fact.

The law that must be passed now must reflect all this. The betterment of the law, its spirit, and the embracing of everybody is a massive task. So is the fine-tuning of other laws that, seemingly, must be given a revisit, to realign them to this mandate. The process must take its time too, so nobody should rush. There needs to be a wide discussion on the many proposals that might have been absent in the run off.

The prime minister has gone on record saying that the Nationalist Party is committed to seeing that what the electorate said will be done. I am sure he will keep his word with the people of Malta and Gozo, and lead by example.

The Nationalist Party should read the string of messages given by the electorate in the past years, and on each time asking: Are we really going down the same road as the people of Malta and Gozo? Various times we are told that we should change. Various times we do not heed the warnings on the wall. Next time could be too late.

Being a prisoner in a penthouse will only keep you away from the people. The silent majority has talked, loudly and clearly. There is nobody more deaf and blind than the one who refuses to hear and see.

This may not be music to my ears, but the will of a voting majority has been assigned to history.

The solution is not to reduce the water and electricity bills, as the Labour Party has been suggesting, although if we possibly can, and world circumstances permit, we should look at this possibility too. There are various ways of helping the family, which will all lead to less tension. I prefer that we help people who are asking the government for help, and we refuse it or take it away from them. I do prefer to help out such people, rather than spend public money in inaugurations that have cost and will cost money.

When the people see the government spending public money, and their family is in a difficulty, then they have every reason to grumble

I would go for helping one of my less fortunate brethren, rather than spending it on a personal situation. I was told in my school days and formation that Christ helped out people during his life, without seeing the person. I was told not to be selfish.

I am sure Christ will see us in a better way if we help our brethren, rather than not caring for those in need. I do come across various situations where a family has been revoked much needed relief benefits; these people had to sell their own car, in an attempt to keep up with their normal standard of living.

The government needs to look at the family very closely. To have committees and sub-committees is fine. But we need concrete measures to counter hardships and keep up the standard of living that people in Malta, and under a Nationalist government, have been used to and accustomed to. And why not? The people have a right for this and we have an obligation to give it to them.

We are all committed to help the families. Even the Church has its responsibility, as it did take an active part in the referendum, and I am very happy that the same Church exponents have now said that they will, after the result, do a soul-searching exercise.

Let’s take off all the nice words, and go for concrete measures. By giving a very good education to our children, and then let so much pressure enter the family home after school hours, thus losing all the good that is gained, is not good enough. A holistic approach is necessary.

I, for one, will continue to strive on this point, as I did in the last budget. Some of my proposals and ideas were adopted, and the change of mentality accepted. I will continue on this line in order that the situations I witness every day can be arranged.

This Nationalist government has been a success in the bigger picture of Malta, least of all the handling of a continual string of crises, one after another. We must translate this to the people. The faster we do it, the better we do it, and will make us better Catholic persons, from the inside and not only in our outside facade.

Robert Arrigo is parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry