There are times in our life when we just raise our arms in exasperation and simply cannot take any more of a critical situation.  We recognize that a limit has been passed, that tolerance and patience are no longer sufficient to deal with the oncoming blasts of unresolved issues and difficulties that are accumulating as we go about our daily life.

If it were a problem like Covid, which we know we have to face in a mature and responsible way, doing whatever we can to mitigate the damage to others and to ourselves, then we are able to draw on our intelligence and our civic sense and do our best to ride the wave of fear and anxiety.

Should it be a sudden catastrophic event, like a typhoon in the Mediterranean or unusually heavy downpours, we do our best to cope and prevent loss of life. 

We do, though, expect our governments to also be prepared for unusual events, especially at this time where we can see that climate change rules and only our behaviour and planning for the future can alter the downward spiral. 

Rather, instead, we see a government, intent on ignoring the crisis that our country is facing and behaving like a coffee morning tombola, giving out bags of sweets like Grimm’s fairy tales and loafing around the grown-ups who come to assess the seriousness of the crises we are facing.

A Justice Minister who is as busy as Trump on his mobile messaging, oozing a teenage obsession with an ex, playing the victim and expecting the country to put a wreath of bay leaves on his head.

The Transport Minister and Infrastructure Malta, hot on the heels of the Justice Minister, also indulge in soothing their ego and insist on a headlong road into a stone wall.  Many have experienced that wall in these past months, as their vehicles crash into one another or into some heavy vehicle or find one deviation too many.  The situation with mobility in Malta and in Gozo has reached a critical point.  In any civilized country, no citizens would be expected to compromise their time and safety in the way we do here.  Driving has become a veritable nightmare.  After coming through long traffic jams, it is then another crisis to park and walk safely from your car to your destination.  Imagine when you are providing transport to children and the elderly and cannot expect them to walk from a long distance.

It is all on us.  On the people.  We are faced with finding the solutions, with organizing transport and errands around this mad maze of blocked roads, dug up roads, cartoon flyovers leading to a flying carpet if you are lucky.  Qawra to the airport needs planning well in advance if you are to be on time to catch a flight.  Pick up minimum 3 hours before departure.  One hour, at best, for the journey. 

Accidents happening on a daily basis, adding to the congestion of traffic and industrial and heavy vehicles mingling in the lanes with light vehicles so that they cannot even see who is alongside them.  The scooters whizz in and out of the cramped lanes and think nothing of crossing right in front of you.

The situation is difficult and dangerous.  Whether from the traffic or from construction sites where residents are besieged by the unrelenting intrusion into their homes and into their communities.  We watch our villages being usurped for the sake of a 6 story block of apartments which will lead to further congestion and poor quality of life.

The joke of day came from Robert Abela at the climate conference, talking of re-afforestation targets.  Activists are calling it Green Washing.  When politicians and governments pledge to do something towards climate change but it is all a camouflage.  Maybe, abroad, Abela thought for a moment that the forests and trees of Scotland were ours and fell under some Halloween spell. 

People have simply had enough of the lies and the failure to address problems that are making our life so difficult.  One can also mention the effect of the grey-listing, becoming more and more evident with each passing day but which Abela and Caruana think is just a recipe for rye bread.  We have the Maltese loaf and pastizzi.  We don’t need to worry our head with silly lists.

Consumers are faced with exaggerated bills for water and electricity but Konrad Mizzi dances around a totem pole and says he brings rain to our island.  All the while, Robert Abela remains silent and does nothing to ensure fair bills and restitution of all the unpaid taxes of Electrogas to the nation.  Same with the cost of corruption.

The cost of goods and services is rising in a remarkable way but no word is spoken about it other than that Malta is the best in Europe.  Our homes are dark and heating them is going to become more expensive but the households must pay up. 

In the middle of all this crisis, the talk by government is of metros that must be dug into caves and bays or tunnels that bring ruin and cost millions and are only going to repeat the congestion found on the newly constructed roads in Malta.

It is time that the government starts to work for the best interest of the country, in a serious and upfront manner.  All lobbies and private businesses that trump social, economic and civil rights must be stopped and an illegitimate power brought under control again.

We are paying the price.  The people, the country, children and the elderly are paying the price for impunity, for greed, for stupidity and arrogance. 

Why should a nation live in an atmosphere of crime and untouchables?  When will people be seen to be doing their job and duty as expected of them by a democratic electorate?  Or is it all Hansel and Gretel? 

Let the people elect a Labour government if that is what they want but let it be a normal democratic government, not a concoction of dilettantes playing on their mobile and capturing the TV screens with a litany of diatribe.

It has been 4 years since the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and we are still waiting for the masterminds of this abominable crime to be brought to justice.  All kinds of manipulations and controls are waged to prevent the truth from coming out.  Sadly, shamefully, those who should have some conscience and stand up to the coterie of Yes Minister, Prosit Ministru, are still in the belief that power corrupts but corrupt labour power is somehow good for Malta.  One day these people will face their Maker.  Let’s see if they can phone a friend then.