This is the season to be merry, but the end of the year is also the ideal time to reflect on the previous year and plan for the year ahead.
Early in March this year, the Labour Party won the general election with an outright majority. Labour’s campaign called for the need of change, meritocracy and promised a government that would work with all for the common good of the country. In principle this is good. So good that the Labour Party cruised to victory. Yet the infamous roadmap was meant to be there to govern effectively and not just to march into Castille.
Nine months down the line and just nine days away from the end of the year, we can regretfully list a number of issues that do not do justice to the country and less so to Labour’s promises. My analysis refers to more than just mistakes but reflect an amateurish level of politics and administration that even a segment of Labour sympathizers would tend to agree that such matters could have been handled better.
To add insult to injury, it’s not only because of the issues themselves because one must take into account that the Labour Party was elected primarily because it stated that it will not govern with such attitude. As the title implies, My Top 10 are in reality someone else’s lows. So what went wrong?
Labour’s top 10 blunders for 2013
1. From billboards to board – immediate and blatant jobs, directorships and posts for those that campaigned for the party or who were closely affiliated to it.
2. The declarations of financial assets by Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries – omissions, financial wonders and mistakes. Worse still, a direct message that there is nothing wrong in giving ambiguous information.
3. Enemalta, China and the ‘cancer’ factory – The lack of information and transparency in the sale of Enemalta’s shareholding to China. The use of heavy fuel oil at the power station continues. So much for the ‘cancer factory’ pre-election cry.
4. V18 – The former Labour Party secretary general running Valletta’s bid and plans for European Capital of Culture. Shallow, almost pathetic.
5. Free medicines – The Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme riddled with out-of-stock medicine, coupled with what looks like growing management and planning issues at Mater Dei.
6. The Police and Army – A couple of blunders in a highly important and sensitive sector that should be devoid of political and partisan tactics for the common good of the country.
7. The illegal pushback threat – A hostile and populist tactic, eventually stopped by the European Court of Human Rights at the last minute.
8. The hunting connection – Clearly a deal brokered to garner votes prior to the election. Relaxation of laws resulting in a public outcry for a referendum on spring hunting.
9. Development v Environment – Another pre-election backroom deal. Policies and proposal about land use, building heights and changes to local plans that are not in line with environmental and sustainable development.
10. The infamous Individual Investor Programme – The outright sale of citizenship scheme with mass collateral international damage. Secrecy, Discounts, Passports, Henley and something…
Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted! If you are one of the many that for various reasons, and some valid reasons included, decided to use your democratic vote to usher in change in 2013, I hope that you will also now stand up and be counted.
Two wrongs don’t make a right and it’s important that we are objective and also recognise any good initiatives the government might implement. This we need to do for the common good of the country and for developing our political environment to a healthier, intelligent and mature level.
On a positive note, enjoy Christmas and the New Year and remember that if you had a drink too many it’s best to sit back and call a cab. Your life, the people that depend on you and others that you can endanger are worth more than €25 euro!
Jonathan Shaw is a PN candidate in the European Parliamentary elections.
www.jonshaw.com