Had the 2017 election been a satisfaction survey we may be convinced that people in Malta and Gozo are delighted with their government and have been transformed into a tranquil and optimistic population, whose expectations are well met.
Some closer scrutiny changes this assumption. There was a high percentage of people who continued to be undecided until the very last survey. The incumbent administration kept its campaign wheels revving even into the polling booth. They would not have felt the need to do that if all was serene and they were confident of a win.
The mass meetings held by the Nationalist Party were drawing a much larger crowd than in the previous election, social partners and institutions were declaring themselves for the PN and warning Muscat's party to heed many of the signs that the risk of damage to our financial services and gaming industry were real and that the environment was being put in danger with the rampant projects and permits being given out. The negative reports on our reputation were costing us highly and it would be difficult to regain our good name.
At that critical election time, making people happy become the number one chore for the labour party and its contesters. Baskets of fruit and corned beef, bottles of wine and various other goodies landed on the table of many households in an attempt to gain favour.
The country voted and Muscat was well re-elected. We now find ourselves in a new stage of development focused on mass construction in the building industry, private sector operations of state enterprises and essential services such as health and energy and strong tourism with ancilliary services which actually lead away from people, rather than take them into account or put them first.
The idea that providing a strong economy will ensure satisfaction and good standards for all is not new. But to work it needs equality and justice and a healthy democracy which is based on good order and listening to people. Instead the trend has been away from people rather than putting them first.
This is seen in the way that people's complaints and fears about the degradation of the urban and open spaces environment have become louder and coming from many directions. We cannot even trust to keep a few trees safe anymore and when we look out of our balcony whilst sipping a coffee, we don't know how much longer that view or space will be available to us.
Has what is often mistakenly called Progress sent us tumbling down the rabbit hole? If your service quality cannot improve, people will not be satisfied. If they are not satisfied they will not promote you and may actually move away from you.
If we take as an example Valletta 2018, the Visitmalta web-site states the following:
"The Valletta 2018 Foundation is responsible for the implementation of the Cultural Programme. As per ECoC regulations set by the EU, the Cultural Programme is to promote a European dimension and encourage citizen participation. Valletta 2018 will enable the participation of the citizens of Malta and Europe and will form an integral and sustainable part of the long-term social, economic and cultural development of Malta. The Cultural Programme is built around four themes: Generations, Routes, Cities and Islands. In conjunction with the Cultural Programme, the Foundation is developing a programme of consistent, accessible and comparable research and evaluation directly linked to culture."
Through V18, the promotion of Malta as a tourist destination was greatly enhanced and the tourism economy grows as a result.
But from what we see and hear, the organisation responsible for the implementation has been receiving harsh criticism locally and overseas and concern is rising about the ability to achieve the scope and satisfaction of the award of this title for Valletta.
Similarly, projects such as Waste Services, investments such as the BWSC, state organisations such as the hospitals, traffic and other infrastructure have been brushed aside and disposed of, neglected or mis-managed in a way that devalues their contribution to the economy and quality of life.
At the tail end of this devaluation, we find humans. Citizens of Malta and Gozo and other non-Maltese persons working or living here. Like some Chinese workers turning out one mobile phone after another in the name of progress, we are forced to see our hard-earned reputation, our investments and our towns and villages and ODZ land being discarded like old cheese.
After arduous and careful work by the Nationalist government to bring under control the system of patronage and to bring the economy to European standards, we have been thrown back into the style of third world countries who have to sacrifice all in order to make some rich. People become invisible and disposable.
Some may reasonably question this argument, saying that the political direction has brought positive results and satisfaction. But how can this be, when people factor so low in the research and development of policies for Malta?
So much of what has been lost in development can be recuperated and built upon in a healthy way, if only political parties really put people first. Then decisions taken would not be based on only financial interests but on what actually works for people. Their work and contribution to the economy would be given value and not just thrown to the next shady bidder for land or hidden in unknown entities in the money laundering business.
What they think, need, do, achieve would count. Policies will be created that put people first and that do not treat them as insignificant until an election comes along. Not many forum groups or think tanks are needed to set the point of departure to "people first". The rest follows naturally. On their part, people should earn the right to this respect and contribute at every level and become a living, thinking, speaking factor in determining policy and direction. If they allow themselves to be manipulated with a goodie bag or a blue-eyed grin, then there is not much that we can do but reap what we sow and get to the back of the line of what really matters.