However pleasant and celebratory anniversaries can be, their real meaning should be a throwback to where we started off and a useful reminder of lessons learnt along the course of time.

June this year brings happy memories of the decisive moment when the largest majority ever of Maltese and Gozitans chose to move ahead with a Labour-led administration. One year ago today, a strong 40,000+ group beat the hate campaign fabrications and rose above the doom-and-gloom corrosive attitude of a negative Opposition. It has been proved time and time again that it is personal and collective factual experience that matters most when selecting their livelihood, manifestly discarding divisive innuendos – however alarming they were always intended to sound.

A winning generation

It was not only the nation-wide feel-good factor that reconfirmed Dr Joseph Muscat’s first government, but the robust socio-economic and political stability that brought about the peace of mind for the well-being of future generations. People have shown to be well-attracted to change and innovation, perhaps the strongest points in Labour’s leadership since June 2008. Ten years on, we have witnessed a silent revolution that has changed the country’s political scenario over partisan tactics, thus transforming the party and the whole nation into a winning generation.

The constant sequence of excellent and unprecedented results attained since then proves that history has its own way of reminding us of our own past as a nation. Maltese and Gozitans who have witnessed the vast range of social reforms of the seventies recall the reconfirmation of Dom Mintoff’s government some 40 years ago. It is so meaningful that, during this week’s events, we have inaugurated the late Prime Minister’s memorial, stressing the undeniable value of his political foresight and the bold innovative decisions he took.

 The anniversary dates we are currently celebrating this month reiterate the continuity spirit of Labour’s fundamental soul and its endemic belief in social justice and national pride. As if we needed to be reminded of these cardinal attributes for Labour, this week we have again witnessed the umpteenth attempt by expired politicians – who are obsessed with clutching at straws and the unfounded allegations they themselves fabricate in their desperate quest – to tarnish the country’s reputation abroad.

Such mise en scène has long been classified by a wider majority as theatrics that can only alleviate the hunger for power of a few. It is clear that Labour’s second massive electoral victory a year ago still haunts those few who dream on with their ‘Labour won’t work’ defeated slogan.

Labour really works

Successive statistics and facts keep on confirming that Labour really works. This week again, we saw Eurostat statements that, during April, we had the second lowest unemployment figures of all EU member states and the lowest in the Eurozone countries. With unemployment at just three per cent, we stand out brilliantly compared to the 8.5 per cent average among Eurozone countries.

Latest Eurostat figures also confirm that household electricity prices in Malta were the seventh lowest in the EU in 2017. According to Eurostat data published this week, electricity prices in the European Union reduced by 0.2 per cent compared to the same period in 2016, standing at €20.5 per 100kWh. Maltese consumers paid €13.6 per 100kWh, less than half the €30.5 paid in Germany, where consumers paid the highest rates. Additionally, while taxes and levies in the EU made up on average 40 per cent of the electricity price charged to households, taxes were lowest in Malta and Gozo, sitting at five per cent of the total price.

Another significant news item that caught my attention this week, although scarcely exposed in the media, is that the government will again be helping people who have reached a certain age by offering them an interest rate better than that offered by the banks. Following the success of previous issuances, the government has asked Parliament to lend €100 million for the purpose of this issuance. A total of €65 million will be offered first, but if this amount is reached, it will be increased to €100 million. The €8,000 limit is being set in the interest of avoiding over-subscription, as was the case in the first scheme of its kind only months ago.

This also proves the affordable income we have brought about for a particular group among our pensioners, prompting us to strive further in increasing pensions as we have done for the third consecutive time last year, after decades when previous governments had forgotten this fast-increasing part of our population.

Gozo Alive and on the move

After the huge success we had with the first ever Gozo Alive! festival in May, the Gozo Ministry moves on with yet another popular initiative for the summer. Summer on the Move is a scheme launched by the Gozo Ministry, following on from the successful participation in the Sports on the Move held during the winter season. The Ministry for Gozo will once again be funding 50 per cent of the cost, meaning that those who wish to participate will only incur half the costs.

We are committed to help children’s sport on the island, in order that they keep active, while at the same time continuing to fight the battle against obesity. During the summer months our children will have a lot of spare time, and it is therefore important that they remain fit through activities that are held in a safe and suitable environment and supervised by professionals.

The Fair Society in which we believe is just a slogan, and aims at being creative with a variety of activities that help maintain a healthy society and improve the talents of our children. It should also help families bring up their children in a better environment and help develop a future generation based on good citizenship. Such activities will also improve socialising skills among our children during the school holidays.

Summer on the Move, which is being organised by the Gozo Sports Board and the Gozo Sports Complex in collaboration with Sport Malta, will be spread over a two-month period between 9 July and 7 September. Sessions will be five hours a day from Monday to Friday, morning and evening at the Gozo Sports Complex for participants between the ages of four and 16. There will also be keep-fit sessions, yoga and athletics aimed at young people and adults.

Gozitan NGOs’ social mission

The Gozo Ministry is strongly committed to further consolidate a fair and inclusive society. This is why we continuously support voluntary organisations in the way they bravely move towards ensuring tangible inclusivity within the local community. It was, in fact, a personal joy to address the hard-working members of the Gozo Association for the Deaf who marked their 30^th anniversary with an event at the Ministry.

Over the years, the Association has been working to create more public awareness. It was actually among those involved in drawing up the important legislation that I proudly piloted two years ago to establish Maltese sign language as a National Language. This created the need for more sign language interpreters, so we embarked on customised courses at various levels, including those held for the first time in Gozo, in collaboration with the Association itself.

Although great strides have been made, we still witness accessibility problems or even discrimination in various places. There are working environments, entertainment venues – including theatres and other areas of culture – as well as lecture rooms at the Gozo University Campus and elsewhere, that are not yet sufficiently equipped. It is our mission to make further investments but, contemporaneously, we expect all stakeholders to be included in our efforts.

More years of commitment

The dedication of voluntary organisations such as the Gozo Association for the Deaf, continue to inspire and encourage me personally, and the Gozo Ministry, to work together so that Gozitan society is truly fair and inclusive. Like many other areas where we celebrate anniversaries – be they social, cultural or political – we will never rest complacently on our laurels but will work harder to ensure higher standards of living for future generations.