It is customary for practically everyone to have a good look at what happened during a year that will be coming to an end, whilst a new year is about to start. This is the time to look back at what happened, reflect on what was positive and what not, whilst looking forward to what we might expect in the year to come.
2013 was definitely a very important year for our country. The year kicked off with the 2013 general election and from the very first days of the year some political friction was evident. However, over all I believe that we had a positive political campaign which led to a seamless transition in government.
The electoral result of March 2013 is an eye-opener for all political parties. The Maltese and Gozitan electorate gave a strong message that was communicated loud and clear: people were not happy with the way things were being administered, they wanted change and they voted for change. An electoral victory of 36,000 is a strong enough message in my view, which no political party can turn a blind eye to. It is also a message that people are ready to change their political affiliations if they are not happy with how things are being managed. It is a message that should keep all political parties on their toes because ultimately their loyalty should lie with the people they represent.
Whilst not being perfect, the new government is providing a reinvigorated sense of change, a new sense of energy and direction. The enactment of Chapter 527 of the Laws of Malta entitled ‘Protection of the Whistleblower Act’ together with the House of Representatives’ approval of the Bill aimed at removing the prescription on acts of political corruption are all a sign in favour of enhancing transparency and accountability, values which our families have been longing for. These laws are communicating a strong message that corruption should never be tolerated. A bill regulating party financing will further consolidate this message.
This government is also providing a much needed boost to our families. This came in the form of innovative initiatives, measures and policies included in Budget 2014. This government’s first budget addressed different groups of our population, particularly hard-working families who can be the main driving force of our economy if provided with the right incentives.
Irregular immigration is another topic that featured prominently during 2013 and I’m sure it will continue to featureprominently during 2014. The European Union Summit in December has been a positive step as regards irregular immigration. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has shown courage and determination and managed to put irregular immigration on the agenda of the European Union Summits. However we still have a long way to go until we can truly say that our country is experiencing tangible solidarity from the EU in this regard.
Looking forward to 2014, I’m presuming that we will have another eventful year. On a personal note, 2014 will be another interesting hectic year, since this time round I have an active role in the upcoming MEP elections as a PL candidate.
On a national level, 2014 will be the year when our families will start benefitting from a substantial reduction of an average of 25% on their electricity tariffs, a financial burden that has been diminishing families’ spending power drastically.
2014 will also be a year of national celebrations with milestone anniversaries for Freedom Day, Malta’s EU accession, Independence Day and Republic Day. These are important anniversaries for our country that all of us should recognize, irrelevant of our political allegiances. I genuinely hope that these anniversaries will provide us all with the opportunities, time and space to come together as one nation, to reflect upon our national identity, to celebrate what makes us Maltese and Gozitans and finally to be able to convey this sense of pride to our upcoming generations.
May you and your families have a great year and may it be a great year for all of us united as one nation.