I wish I had the opportunity to invite the Prime Minister to a pizza night. Not only him, but also the Cabinet ministers and his parliamentarians. I really wish I could enjoy their company one Saturday evening, so that together with my wife, besides enjoying the scenery of the expensive yachts – and the pizza – they will witness what I am going to tell.
No, I will not discuss the present economic situation. The doorless entrance to Valletta. Or a roofless theatre. His recent visits to the kitchens of the Maltese families and witness the empty fridges. Neither the PN’s internal disputes and dissent. Nor to thank him that he finally decided to stop his €500 weekly wage increase given without “our knowledge”, especially that of the highest democratic institution – parliament. No. None of these. But to witness and see for himself the manifestation of poverty at its best.
One day recently, as we were enjoying our take-away in our car at Msida gardens, in front of the yacht marina, we observed a middle-aged man walking. From his attire we concluded that he surely must be coming from a lower class family. Suddenly, he stopped in front of one of the green skips, opened the lid, and we saw him retrieve an oil-stained paper basket. He closed the lid, and proceeded on his way.
As he went on his way, we saw him draw out a piece of bread from this oil-stained paper basket, and ate it hurriedly, as if someone was after his coup. Having finished, he proceeded to the next skip but with no luck. We looked at each other, marvelled at such a sight. We couldn’t believe that such starving people do exist in this 21st century Malta! That such poverty does exist in our Island, known by the Tunisians as ‘Malta ħanina, ħobża w’sardina’.
How can you ignore such realities Mr Prime Minister, when your govenment has turned the clock 40, 50 years back! How can you resist the “perception” that such people do exist among us in the XXI century? When one scans your declared (?) assets in local papers, one can realise that you and your lot can never fathom what it means for the pensioners to manage with €300, €400 a month, or for a family of four to live on the minimum wage. You should be ashamed that what had been achieved under the Labour administrations was taken away by your misgoverning of these islands during this eight-year timeframe, to give it away to a very few selected blue-eyed boys.
Yes. This is the stark reality of the present situation. It’s shameful that you do not want to realise that poverty and beggars do exist. You should believe then, that you and your clique are utterly wrong to accuse Dr Joseph Muscat that it’s only a perception created by the Labour Party.
■ Louis Fenech
L-Iklin