‘We cannot have it both ways: if we are free we are responsible: if we are not responsible, we are not free’ – Bishop Fulton Sheen

History has an uncanny way of repeating itself. As Gozitans and Maltese we have had more than our fair share of strife. Through the millenia, we were conquered time and again and our fate was inextricably intertwined with that of the great nations and empires that ruled us. We fought their wars, were victims of their defeats, suffered hunger and lost loved ones. Despite countless attempts to separate us from our core values and beliefs, we survived the assault and are now a nation-state with our own identity, language and autonomy. History has made us strong and resilient.

Historical records show that many epidemics hit our islands throughout the ages, in the form of viruses and microbes that reached our shores and harbours from across the globe. In those days the poor and malnutritioned, practically the majority of people, were the first to succumb to contagion. There were no antibiotics, treatments and life-support machines to help fight the disease. Adding insult to injury, cures and remedies in fact were mostly reserved for the ruling classes. The rest of the people were left to their own devises and died the most horrible of deaths.

Commitment to people's health

Today we are living a different reality. We are blessed with a strong welfare state, a strong economy and a government that is fully committed to the well-being of society. Our national health service is one of the best in Europe and our capable and very well-trained healthcare workers and medics instill within us the assurance that whatever happens we are in safe hands.

We are living in a world where no matter how technologically and medically advanced we are, nature always has the upper hand. Be it earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme weather conditions or pandemics, as humans we are simply occupying a space that can easily close in upon us through the forces of nature. A case in point is the Novel Coronavirus. This invisible, single cell organism has in a short span of time, spread across the globe and infected thousands. As yet, there is no vaccine or cure and many have succumbed to its virulence notwithstanding the highly advanced medical systems in place in most westernised countries.

Global as local

The effects of this virus are also having a massive impact on the global economy. There is no denying that we are living in a world where economics dictate our standard of living and the way we organise our day-to-day life. A poor economy in situations such as these could have a devastating effect on any country and further impacts the effects of a pandemic. In our case, however, thanks to Joseph Muscat’s long-term vision for socio-economic sustainablity, we can fight the economical and social impact of this disease with confidence.

We have witnessed the best evidence of our strengths last Wednesday with government announcing a package of almost €2bn to boost public health, support the business community and safeguard the workers. This package would not have been possible had it not been for Labour’s wise use of public funds and consecutive surpluses over the last seven years. It is no surprise, however, that the same people who denied our economic growth for years, will find it hard to accept the national support package.

Facing an unknown enemy 

What does this unprecedented situation teach us? Yes, we can rest assured that our government is doing its utmost to contain and overcome this unknown enemy. Our spiritual and psychological well-being however, are also important. Self-imposed or manadatory isolation of the most vulnerable in our society, particularly our elderly, the infirm and people with special needs, has become a sine qua non.  It will most certainly leave long-term effects both on the isolated and their loved ones. Statutory quarantine for those who were somehow in contact with persons carrying the virus, is aimed at protecting the whole community, although it will also have its effects.

We have to collectively and individually look within ourselves and admit that our families, our communities and society at large cannot hold themselves together separately. We are all connected to one another –  be it our biggest private company, individual farmer or manual worker – none of us can survive without the other. We must all look after one another, listen and follow the rules and directives given to us by our capable medical and scientific experts and reach out to those who are less fortunate than us.

Challenging times

Anxiety and fear are normal responses in these challenging times. However, these fears need to be put into perspective. Neurotic fear translates into us rushing to the supermarkets to hoard toilet paper, water, hand washes and soap. Wise caution on the other hand dictates that we wash our hands often, avoid unnecessary physical contact and crowds, observe quarantine rules as required and spend wisely on our normal needs and within our budgets.

The truth is that our values are what define us as a responsible community. The resilience handed down to us through the ages with great sacrifice is what makes us Gozitans and Maltese today. We are a generous and kind people that are ready to help those in need. Proof of this are the vast amounts of donations we hand out to the most vulnerable during the many fund-raising activities throughout the year. This time round it is the whole nation that can be considered as vulnerable and each one of us is expected to support the rest of us!

Community spirit

In these trying times, we must look within ourselves and behave honourably and responsibly towards one another. Our stress levels are a natural reaction to fear of the unknown. We can deal with this stress by being good neighbours and helping out in our communities. Taking care of one another, spending quality time with our nearest and dearest and uniting as one nation will alleviate individual feelings of helpnessness. Together we can help our overall peace of mind and hope for the best outcome.

It is the way we face and overcome obstacles that will define us as a nation. We have the necessary innate characteristics and a strong goverment with a great sense of leadership. United as one we can make it as did our ancestors before us. Let’s support our brave and capable health workers and medics by following their advice and reaching out to those in need of additional support.

We are free to understand and responsible to act. Together we can make the expected difference!