We have seen on many occasions that social distancing is not something that registers much in Robert Abela’s zone.  If he wants to have a photo taken with journalists or to have a press conference, then the rules don’t apply and everyone is body to body. 

This tendency has extended to his political distancing rules too.  The contagion is very clear.  Bobby and Joe are BFFs and will not allow any accusations, protests, allegations, revelations of gross impropriety and the very reason why Abela sits in his office, to interfere with the alternative government of Joseph and Keith, said to be the government of Malta and Gozo.

Is it time for a new election?  Because the system of governance we have right now is nothing but a sham and a vehicle for the rampant mis-use of public funds, for the business friends identified as enablers for the Labour Party and its glorified gangsters and for the construction industry in Malta to be the one economic generator that receives all the favours.

The country simply cannot afford to carry on like this.  Wherever you look, Malta is heading in the wrong direction and is unlikely to survive this absence of governance without serious and immediate intervention to install a new, respected and trusted, democratically elected government.

The other day we were meant to be encouraged by the visit of ex-Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat to the office of Dr Robert Abela, PM, in order, it was rumoured, for them to have a tete’ a tete’ about the economy and the possible turn-around for the way forward. 

Is this the best that the PM could come up with?  Phone a friend?  He must have a very short memory if he does not remember the daily public protests at the steps of Castille and in front of Parliament and the subsequent unravelling of the web at the helm of our government at the time.

Joseph Muscat was unpalatable even to his own grafted cabinet.  But it seems that a spell in political rehab, visiting the money capitals of the world, has re-conditioned Muscat back into the society that ensures the continued legislature of the Labour Party.

The self-interest of the Members of Parliament was made clear this week as the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, Dr. George Hyzler, ruled that some MPs were using public funds for their own personal web-sites or social media pages and that this amounted to a serious misconduct.

The Parliamentary group accept the status quo.  They look at their own corner and don’t give a moment’s thought to the implications for the country, of Joseph Muscat setting foot into Robert Abela’s office.  Unless they consider it only out of competition when it comes to an election and how it can benefit both Abela and Muscat. 

It’s all a game and the public are growing tired of the usual one who gets to play tag. 

The tourism and hospitality industry, which contributes 15% of our GDP and has employed so many of the foreign workers, is facing unprecedented challenge.  And yet, what do we see?  Hotels opting to remain closed during Summer 2020 so that they can continue with their project of adding another 2 floors to the building.  The huge mess of the construction of the Marsa flyover is just unbelievable.  Photo after photo of ugly buildings rammed into narrow streets and bays covered in silt so that projects that the public did not want and protested against can go ahead. 

Air Malta in the middle of a drama that will surely once again get a mention on Netflix. 

Staff and self-employed in the tourism industry are amongst many who have still not received the compensatory funds they were promised. 

Beaches keep getting smaller and kiosks and restaurants block views and access to the sea-side. 

There is no hotel that is not next to a building site or that hasn’t dealt a blow to nature and landscapes.

If we did have to re-open to tourists, what will they see when they come here?  Some weeds have been pulled, some cleaning has been done, a Mediterranean paradise image that exists only on video and makes them wonder where they actually are. 

Because the construction industry trumps every other here in Malta and Gozo and the value of tourism is tied to real estate which will soon be able to be converted to what was desired in the first place - a 7 storey block of apartments with seaviews and a spa.  Some have had a head-start and point the way for the near future.  Zonqor point, AUM in Cottonera, the Fortina in Sliema are some of the projects that were tied to the tourism growth and are falling under the conversion therapy with St Luke’s and Karin Grech hospital likely to come next.  From Medical Tourism to Foreign Language Students we envisage a new re-purposing of these projects into money-makers for the investor and his friends.

When it comes to entertainment and hospitality, most of the major players will have other options to fall back on.  Those small and medium sized restaurants and bars, though, are working round the clock to find a way to keep themselves afloat.  Shops will discount their merchandise and try to pull through but closure is not ruled out.

Other services have been impacted too and will have to show a resilience beyond normal whilst other enterprises have a leg up on direct orders, projects and schemes. 

And in the middle of this absence of leadership, a false ex-leader comes to raise the flag again and give the all clear.  Joseph Muscat’s office is required to save the day and chart the course of the economic revival and more likely, of a political come-back. 

“Continuity” can now be understood as “Transitional” when it comes to Robert Abela’s government.

One cannot be blamed for suspecting that, rather than the economy, what was really discussed was how to ensure the next election is won and nobody having to spend time in Kordin.

To distract the people, a good show-down with the EU will be right what the labour party needs to look strong and like a winner.  The ideal culprit will be the EU.  The pieces are being moved into place and a boatload of immigrants from Africa or Bangladesh will be the gift Joseph needs to come in and save Malta from being over-run with a pandemic.  The virus linked to the immigration and nobody can deny that we have the best government ever looking out for us.  Who said the economy was for the people anyway?  Money is for those who are entrusted with making it, whichever way it takes.

It’s going to be a long hot summer.