The end of the year is always a time when one reflects on the 12 months that have just passed, and when one looks ahead at a new beginning.

Some will look back at 2023 as a year of personal progress, one which maybe gave them a sense of achievement, at the place of work or in a special relationship. They had positive experiences which enriched them or found new avenues which they will follow with commitment and determination. They will look forward to another year on which to build on their success.

Others will not be happy with the year that is about to end. It may have been a year of transition in their personal growth or career advancement. It may have brought health issues or the loss of a loved one. The more optimistic will argue that 2024 can only be better; the more pessimistic may not be looking at 2024 in good light, believing that things will get worse.

Like every other country, Malta had its ups and downs in 2023 too.

It was the first full year of recovery from the pandemic, and it must be said that we have overcome an extremely challenging time with flying colours. The Covid-19 virus cut many lives short and families who had relatives die alone without as much as a word of comfort will not forget the experience, irrespective of the age of the victim, but particularly more so if he or she were still young.

But we can safely say that the health authorities did a thoroughly good job during the more difficult months, and many survived because of their hard work and dedication. From an economic point of view, Malta has recovered better than many other countries and, if we just take the tourism industry on its own, we are almost back to the pre-Covid days.

Yet we must not look short-term in the aspect, and we must acknowledge that if Malta continues to lose its attractiveness, there will come a time when more and more tourists will seek other destinations; those that, for example, do not look like concrete jungles; those that are not so over-populated; those where traffic is not a problem; those where it is less costly and where they can get better value for their money.

Looking back at 2023, one must mention that Malta yet again experienced a set of government-linked scandals that we would have gladly done without. The driving licence racket and the benefits fraud scandal are two of the more serious ones, and we are still to know how both situations will be concluded. What was not acceptable was the government’s reaction to them, with Prime Minister Robert Abela defending people close to him.

Added to this, we had the courts’ double ruling on the hospitals’ deal, with a Court of Appeal in October affirming what a judge had ruled earlier in February – the rescinding of a 2015 agreement which had seen three public hospitals being passed on to be administered by private companies. Even here, the government’s reaction left so much to be desired. What is worse is that the police and the Attorney General have not lifted a finger.

Another highlight was the public uproar when PM Abela persisted in his refusal to order a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia, who was killed when a building under construction in Kordin collapsed. Abela went as far as ordering his MPs to vote against an Opposition parliamentary motion to launch the inquiry, only to make a colossal u-turn a few hours before a protest was to take place outside his office in Valletta.

Before we start the New Year we already know that 2024 will see the installation of a new President – if the two sides of the House come to terms on who will succeed George Vella as Head of State. If not, Vella may stay on or else an Acting President is appointed until the constitutional impasse is resolved. We also know that we will have a new European Commissioner at the expiration of Helena Dalli’s term. In June, then, we will have an election for Malta’s six representatives at the European Parliament, and for local councils.

It’s going to be an eventful year, one which will also see Robert Abela’s government pass the midway point in between general elections. And there will probably be other events that will take place – one of them will likely be the conclusion of a magisterial inquiry into the hospitals deal that was mentioned earlier. That promises to be an exciting time.

We wish all the readers of The Malta Independent on Sunday a healthy and prosperous 2024.