The arguments advanced by the Chamber of Commerce that Stabbiltà, the government's flagship programme to rein in price rises was ineffectual are unconvincing. True, if one considers how internationally price levels moved during recent months, in theory inflation should have subsided "by itself". The catch is that that's just the theory.

The same result would have been obtained without Stabbiltà, it was claimed. Still too often, economic changes in this country do not follow European trends. This is a consequence of the island's small size, but equally and frequently of hidden or open arrangements that exist between economic operators. This time the existence of Stabbiltà served as an anchor to keep prices from being driven forward by hidden currents even as internationally the ocean of trade exchanges had calmed down price-wise.

Naturally the Chamber of Commerce has a vested interest to deny that this could be the case. For the Chamber, the claim remains that the market is the best driver. It's not always true, nor is it the only truth there is.

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Sports objectives

For decades, the debate has been proceeding regarding what the aims of a national sports policy should be. Should the emphasis be on elite sports by which the best available talent is given intensive training and support to achieve some success in international competitions? Or should resources be concentrated on educuation and training in sports for all, independently of any idea to compete internationally, and this in order to improve the health of citizens overall and their quality of life.

It is never clear how these questions were resolved in the past. Likely, they were never really cleared. Which might explain why in both directions, one cannot honestly say that in human terms, there has been any substantive progress, except for an upgrading over the years of physical sports facilities. Regarding any impact on the health of citizens, the clearest assessment was provided recently by a European statistical update on obesity. This showed how obesity rates in Malta surpass almost those of almost all other countries.

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Opinion

It is becoming a cause for concern how the opinion that the integrity of Malta's governance is inadequate has continued to spread among people. There are various reasons for this and they are greatly dependent on the political views of those who express such a view. For it is clear that there is a conscious strategy by groups of people to propagate it. And it is also clear that their strategy includes exagerrations, jumbled up facts and rumours, among other ploys.

However, the view is also spreading among people who are far from being naive or staunch Nationalists. Some have supported the Labour government in a genuine manner, and not because they are carpetbaggers for as long as "their" party is in government. Indeed these are the people who express the most concern.

The government would be at fault if it ignores what is going on - if it simply blames political adversaries for inventing fairy stories. The effective way by which to counter this emerging threat is by taking steps to control and eliminate any abuse that is discovered, and by implementing such measures to their very end.