Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday slammed the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party, accusing them of acting like Father Christmas and using electoral gimmicks as they both fish for votes.

They are right to do so. We cannot understand how both the political parties are making so many promises – tablets and all – in the current economic climate.

The way things have unfolded is nothing short of bizarre. The PN began its campaign by criticizing Labour for making promises that it could not keep. Yet, as things have unfolded, both parties and leaders seem to be trying to ‘out-promise’ each other.

As Alternattiva Demokratika rightly stated, the plain truth is that money for public services has to come from somewhere. “The irresponsible and unsustainable tax cuts in the budget, supported by both Nationalist and Labour Parties, will result in less Government revenue, and hence, less funds for public services,” it said.

With the grants being offered for children and promises of free tablets and computers, are we about to head into a baby making bonanza. It might sound funny or far fetched, but it is not. Other countries have seen the same thing happen, people knocking out kids just to benefit from these schemes. Is this really what we want? We already have a culture whereby the general public wants to be babysat by the government. Do we want to add this to the mix?

AD was also critical of the fact that the discussion on education has been kicked off with the promise of tablets across the board for students. Whilst the continuation of the country's IT strategy in education is important, this provision has to be discussed within the context of the general needs of all students including the financing of early intervention programmes, psychosocial services among other urgent needs.  

The Government, whichever party gets in, needs to aim for a balanced budget by 2015. The EU we form part of today, is not the EU of some years ago. Financial controls are much stricter and everyone has to keep within the lines set out by the European Commission in terms of sustainable finances. And it is going to get even more stringent. We cannot understand how there was never any money for anything infrastructural in the last term, yet now we suddenly have money to give out free IT accessories to all children, and at the same time consider building a tunnel from Malta to Gozo. Surely, it would be better to fix our roads and pavements first, and restore our historical sites. It is all an issue of priorities. But the public is to blame as well. People have long complained that our taxes are not being spent correctly, yet all of a sudden, as soon as we are promised a ‘gift’ we rush to see what it is and how we can receive one.

It is time to focus on the things that really matter. Jobs, investment and sound finances. Both parties need to drop the gimmicks and focus on real and tangible issues that are affecting the country. You can’t download an app for that.