Former Nationalist Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi asked whether politicians are choosing votes rather than working in the best interests of the the country so its citizens are proud of being born and raised in Malta.
Addressing an audience at the conference on the third edition of the survey of the State of the Nation, organised by the Office of the President, Gonzi highlighted one particular finding which shows that a third of youths wish they were born and raised in another country.
Gonzi said that the country is going through a particular moment with many challenges and uncertainties due to worrying events around the world.
He said that it is very worrying that a number of youth in the country do not see a future in Malta. Gonzi said that there is strong scepticism towards politics and politicians.
Gonzi spoke about the positive politics have done for the country in early years, particularly free education for all, and encouragement to purse University through stipends.
“It is not true that politics is a dirty practise, but needs to be regarded as an instrument,” Gonzi said, adding that while there have been politicians who have made grave mistakes, this should not generalise the political system in the country, which has done so much good.
“We have gained the fame of an honest, hard-working and serious population, who wants to live in a comfortable environment, and not an ugly one, one that they do not trust their children in,” Gonzi said.
He continued that the fame which leaders in the country managed to gain was stained with the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, giving an impression that there is a group of people dictating what goes on in the country.
“Money became crucial for us to obtain what we want,” Gonzi said, referring to golden passports, adding that Maltese values should not be for sale, as this will continue staining the politics of the country.
Gonzi said that growth does not only come from the selling of passports, or an economy based only on the construction industry, but appealed to reform the economic model as was done in the past.
He spoke about irregular immigrants, who risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean, seeking a better life.
“We should be responsible, with out national conscience, to help someone who is calling for help,” Gonzi said, adding that the current politics should not turn a blind eye to immigrants.
He said that one out of five persons of the population are working foreigners. Gonzi said these are people who are not all irregular immigrants and are needed in the country to fill in jobs in hospitals, and other sectors.
“We have developed an economy which is dependent on foreign workers. If we want to change this, we need to work sensibly to change the economic model,” Gonzi said, by creating new economic niches.
Gonzi appealed for the country to address vulnerabilities of today, mentioning the communication system between Malta and the European and African content, protecting with all means possible the physical connection the country has with others, deeming it crucial.
Gonzi also said that the past should remind us of the large weight on the population’s shoulder, and that the population should be proud that it was born, raised and lived in Malta.
Labour MEP and former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said that development in the country has led to a clear conclusion, and that the economy has not only grown, but its strategic guidelines also grew, calling it an unprecedented growth.
He said that development in the country has affected institutions and national activities, and change has happened so fast that the country is not managing to keep up with it.
Sant said that responsibilities should be carried out within the institutions, primarily those of governance, with commitment.
Sant appealed for an improved political scene, and gave a number of recommendations, such as a smaller Cabinet and a better system for inquiring magistrates.