"If you don't go through life with an open mind, you will find a lot of closed doors" - Mark W. Perrett.

Someone once said that 'the mind is like a parachute - it functions when it is open'. As citizens, empathy, curiosity, tolerance, patience and humility in respect to our own views are essential for our well-being. All these dispositions and virtues are important pre-requisites in a modern democratic society and encompass what it means to be open-minded and forward looking. An open-minded person is interested in the world around him and in the way other people make up their minds. He is also willing to look at the other side of the coin and able to examine his and other people's interests and prejudices. Through the process of critical thinking, he seeks justice and truth.

Our democracy

Ours is a young democracy but the socio-political changes experienced in the last eight years are proof of our willingness to embrace the concepts of a modern democracy with an open mind and with a good listening ear. It is my pride to be part of this Administration that was voted into power in two consecutive elections with overwhelming majorities because the pledges set out in our electoral manifestos are being implimented diligently and progressively.

Labour's pledges were aptly described by Commissioner Helena Dalli as pledges to open society, celebrate diversity, recognise the social realities around us, cherish Maltese identity without discrimination, ensuring equality and respect to minorities and above all to safeguard the fundamental human rights and freedoms of all.

Collaboration versus defiance

The American pastor Warren W. Wiersbe once observed that 'a crisis doesn't make a person; it reveals what a person is made of.' This also applies to communities and governments. It is in times of crisis that underlying strengths and weaknesses come to the fore. At the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Labour government showed without a shadow of a doubt that rather than economic gain, it is the health and well-being of its citizens that comes first. The way the Covid-19 crisis was and is still being handled has been lauded and admired both locally and abroad.

In an ideal world, the concept of open-mindedness should spurn us to unite and collaborate wholeheartedly to create a better place to be and safeguard our collective well-being. For a democracy to function citizens have to at least agree with what reality actually is. In principle we need to share basic beliefs about why certain things happen and what causes a problem to occur.

We are not expected to think the same way about big issues, or believe the same things, or uphold the same solutions. However, in principle, we need to have acquired basic shared beliefs about why certain things happen, what is dangerous, what caused a problem to occur and how to characterise and learn from what has already happened.

Honesty versus hypocrisy

Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, can obstruct the democratic process for personal gain, partisan allegiances and a myriad of other reasons. Holding steadfast to convictions is commendable. Doing so at the expense of other principles is not. As an example, a person cannot on one hand protest in the streets advocating for those he believes are being marginalised and at the same time emarginalise other persons who disagree with his views.

Declaring open-mindedness means being open-minded to differing views and viewing actions through the eyes of those who might not see things as you do. Actions and words should match. People will most certainly scrutinise how well one lives up to their own standards.

This Labour Administration and most people of good faith are doing their utmost to kick-start the economy in this transitionary period from Covid to post-Covid and the new ‘normal’ we have to adapt to. It is a pity that the collective efforts of the vast majority of the people are being overshadowed by tactics and maneuvers led by some.

Innovation

The measures and incentives set up by this administration in such a short span of time are the fruit of a solid socio-economic background built over a period of a few years on the principles of justice, solidarity and the rule of law. The secret to this government’s huge successes is due to the fact that focus is not placed merely on productivity but on innovation in all levels of society.

The stimulus injected into innovation relies on open-mindedness which is in itself a form of experimentation. Experimentation helps a nation solve its problems. Innovation is the new way with which western society has to takle the issues of unemployment, health-related issues and other threats.  The new way of doing business encouraged by the Labour Government aims at helping them diversify, become inclusive and compete on an international platform through open-minded experimentation. We know that ideology focuses on the status-quo and that progress through experimentation has to be tackled with open-mindedness and positivity. This will lead us to think about how to improve our socio-economic well-being, question and debate.

The involvement of all stake-holders in all that this Administration wishes to impliment is commendable and open to all those who are able to contibute in the building of a better society and a stronger democracy. It is indeed sad that only the blindfolded sytematically oppose and attempt to obstruct optimism.

Optimism is the key

We should be optimistic. This government has the capability, resources, impetus and open-mindedness to push our country into innovation, growth, employment and productivity. As the world economic leader Klaus Schwab says, 'innovative-richness will determine the future of a country.' Coupled with good faith and a sincere desire to work towards equity and justice, this will ensure that our society will adapt to the new-normal as swiftly as possible.

Our recent success proves that united we are able to overcome all challenges. We can rest assured that this goverment has our backs covered and diligently provides the resources and capabilities to help us achieve our goals. Responsible Gozitans and Maltese are well-meaning citizens who aspire and work hard towards a brighter future.  Let us sincerely move on hand in hand towards these goals with open-mindedness and a kind of solidarity that surpasses all forms of hypocrisy.