A happy new year to our readers.

We have just exited from an exciting year, and are now looking forward to another 60 days of interesting times. The campaign will unfold as from next week, when all guns will be blazing.

The people will have to make up their minds, choose their party and eventually the candidate they want to elect on 9 March.

That will determine the government that will govern Malta for the next five years. It’s a crucial vote as it will determine the road to be taken. Even the non-voting sector, so much in fashion these days, will determine the outcome. A non-voting nationalist will ultimately, on abstention, will be giving Labour one vote. Cross-party voting will give the other party two votes. Such is the exercise, such is the importance, such is the result and consequences.

This is simple mathematics. The party that gets one vote more than the other will win the election, and eventually adjust itself into having a one-seat majority if the difference is not too large.

The thousands of new voters have a say too in this election. These persons have only second hand knowledge on the effects of a change of government. They certainly do not know that you could not criticise for fear of being beaten up, or go to Sicily for toothpaste, chocolate and pasta. I could mention a whole load of other things that deprived the Maltese citizen of his or her rights and of their dignity too.

But today everything is taken for granted. The very peace we live in is taken for granted. Today we have everything, with the younger generation getting everything it wishes, including mobile phones at a tender age. The decision we need to take is too great for people to decide not to vote. The non-voter, proud as he/she may be today in boasting of non-voting, will regret it on the closure of the polling booth. Too late, Years must pass to re address the situation.

Yes, there were mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes. Only those who do nothing, just criticize and take opportunistic stands do not make mistakes. Whoever is in the driving seat makes mistakes. They are mostly unwanted mistakes; as the world travels so fast, decisions thought to be correct turn out badly, just because an outside event happened.

People complain that the PN has been there too long. Do note that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has only been there for nine years, unlike the usual 16-year terms we are accustomed to have from Mintoff, Borg Oliver and Fenech Adami times. Do not go by perception. Go by facts, and look around in the Malta we have today. The progress done. The people that were left out or behind should, however, be looked after, and this must be a priority next time round.

The work that Malta needs, the input that is needed, must come from everybody on a wide scale. Learning from a virtue called hindsight is worth its weight in gold.

On a personal basis, I have concluded visiting each and every street in the two districts I contest, twice over. Over the past four and a half years, since October 2008 I was welcomed in over 8,500 households. I must thank each and every family for the enormous satisfaction I have had in serving them over the years constantly, on a daily basis.

I have organized some 145 activities over the five years, thus keeping in touch with the base, which is the biggest source of information. It keeps you informed,  up to date , and ultimately served my purpose of being the minister of service to my districts and beyond.

An election is won by having an inclusive approach. We win with the genuine help of everybody. Each doing his bit, in a bid to finish the jigsaw puzzle in the fastest time, each piece building up to the ultimate bigger picture.

Let this be our new year’s resolution.

Robert Arrigo is a parliamentary assistant in the Finance Ministry