With four years of firsts to its credit, the Labour Government has succeeded in reaching yet another high that any government dreams of achieving: recording the country's first surplus in an entire generation.
The latest figures from the National Statistics Office show that Malta has achieved its first balanced budget in 35 years. In 2016, the Consolidated Fund registered a surplus of €8.9 million which, quite rightly, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat hailed as the Maltese economic miracle. Miracles, however, are usually associated with unexplainable or unknown causes, while this latest first is the result of incessant hard work and wise decisions taken by Labour over the short span of four years which led to this achievement.
The extent of its importance is even more significant when the whole country knows that the economic and social feel-good factor has been on the increase all along, without the least trace of any fiscal increases or any belt-tightening measures. The vast majority of Maltese and Gozitans are aware of these real facts through their everyday lives. They can better appreciate now the focused teamwork by the Labour Cabinet, enriched with the political wisdom of Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.
A bitter Opposition
Unfortunately, as is now customary, the Opposition appears to be the solitary negative voice around, attempting to denigrate the government's economic success, resorting to a variety of false - or at best puerile - arguments. Anchored in an abyss of negativity, as they have been all through Labour's first four years in power, they should be ashamed of harping on about further doom and gloom at a time when the whole country feels proud of the first economic surplus in a whole generation.
I have no doubt that within the Opposition ranks there are sensible persons who hold true to facts rather than seeking the cheap comfort zone of endlessly opposing anything under the sun. It is a pity that such responsible persons have to succumb to the bitter party patterns of attacking Labour ad nauseam. At the end of the day they will realise that being on the other side of the House does not mean freely shooting from the hip. For the majority of people who appreciate political honesty, these persons may save the day, albeit partially, for an Opposition that has consistently become the personification of negativity.
It has become increasingly evident now that bitterness is the innate essence that motivates the unwarranted issues and fake news fabricated by the Opposition. They seem to be frustrated with the Labour government's success story, not least with Malta's strong performance during its presidency of the EU Council. Nor can they be taken seriously when they subtly and stealthily, but flagrantly, circumvent the unprecedented party financing law, which they had resisted for more than a decade. Whatever the number of successes achieved by this first Labour administration, our democracy needs a responsible Opposition that can be expected to inspire alternative policies rather than desperately attempting to dishearten the nation. The wise old saying 'you reap what you sow' speaks volumes.
The autism spectrum
April is dedicated worldwide to further awareness of the autism spectrum. This year marks the first anniversary of a specific law I had the honour of piloting through Parliament: the Autism Spectrum Empowerment Act. It was indeed a landmark, together with The State Support Plan envisaged in this law and compiled by the stakeholders themselves. It also provided that a national council be appointed, composed of people with autism and their families, together with academics and other official entities involved with autism. It ensures that the country responds in a decisive manner to what this sector deserves, with all the stakeholders collaborating in a co-ordinated manner.
I have this week dealt with the composition of this council when addressing the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee. On 1 April I accompanied Mrs Michelle Muscat as she initiated the symbolic blue lighting of Gozo's Cittadella, in line with the international commemoration of Autism Awareness Day. A specific meeting for parents was held at the Għajnsielem Learning Hub at which Education Department officials explained the various support services available in our schools.
We are committed to building bridges in order to have people within the autism spectrum fully included and - where their potential can be duly expanded - with the required development of new skills. Autism is a complex condition that is on the rise locally and there is a need to tackle it in a focused and united way. The aim of the State Support Plan is to assess the local situation and what changes are required, setting time-lines for the measures needed. It will also focus on the early detection and awareness of symptoms as well as acceptance and social inclusion.
Any administration can placidly stay within its comfort zone and utter the sweetest words of solidarity, but this government walks the talk; we act as our duty dictates without any hesitation. We are committed to supporting families with such challenges by providing the necessary tools to help those with autism gain more independence and feel protected.
The nation's major service provider
Together with Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi, I have this week inaugurated a newly-refurbished Professional Development Centre for Aġenzija Sapport's personnel at Ħal-Far. Giving a clear and holistic direction to our social policy was a very important proposal in Labour's manifesto, at the centre of the Fair Society phrase that guides all our initiatives in the disability and elderly sectors. We moved everyone along to build a stronger, more effective and better placed and equipped national agency at the heart of the government's service provision. We gave it an autonomous legal standing through specific legislation last year and invested heavily in providing training programmes for all members of staff and supplying a better infrastructure in terms of office and clinical space.
In view of the weighty budget of the Agency, the distinct service provision, the broad spectrum of services and the mega investment on which the Government has embarked during its first four years in office, it has proved fundamental to reform the services sector to create a continuum where the package is designed to ensure efficiency in supporting our clients.
I am convinced that this is, and will continue to be, the right way forward. We have improved effectiveness calculated on an increase in direct services, better synergy amongst professions, cost-effectiveness, a healthy infrastructure and individually designed programmes. We are not perfect and are always open for improvement, but results are showing that our plan of services will see us through the coming years. Aġenzija Sapport has demonstrated that it has the momentum and resilience to take its mission a step further. We need to ensure that the agency strengthens its ethos and manpower to respond to the issues with which we are currently dealing and those we anticipate dealing with in the future.
The Gozitan dimension
Collaborating with different stakeholders is of the essence in Gozo, in view of the limited resources available compared to the needs and demands. This week we finalised an agreement with the Bishop of Gozo's Curia to enhance our collaboration in the fields of people with disability and older persons. We have already had very positive experiences with regard to projects such as the Għajnsielem Learning Hub, the Night Shelter in Xagħra, the Hearing Loop System at Ta' Pinu shrine and other initiatives with various Gozitan parishes. This truly fruitful experience will be translated into an unprecedented output and various innovative projects in Gozo to deliver new qualitative services. Bishop Mario Grech marked the occasion with very incisive words to the effect that we need to foster a culture of delivering new services for the benefit of those who need them.
On a cultural note, during the coming week, Gozo will display the artistic talents and skills of its people through a vast range of religious exhibitions and traditional pageants related to Holy Week. I wish to congratulate them all for their dedication, resilience and adherence to tradition which is a further demonstration of the immense value of voluntary work.