As the days get longer, and the mercury column starts to climb, we know that summer is on the way, and with it all the elements that we have grown accustomed to - both enjoyable and less so.

While it remains a season to share some extra time with family, take a holiday, or enjoy one's village feast - if that is what floats your boat - unfortunately, summer has also become a time of hardship on many of us, as it accentuates the shortcomings in infrastructure as well as long-term policy of the country.

Considering that until a few short years ago Malta's population was just shy of 300,000 and we wouldn't even get any close to a million visitors in a year, we have experienced a veritable explosion in terms of numbers in just a few decades.

The true exponential growth in numbers has undoubtedly taken place in the past decade or so, with tens of thousands of third country nationals being brought over to join our workforce. Hailing from far-flung countries, these workers have been brought over to keep our labour costs low, without really understanding what kind of needs the country had, and how much of them. A carrying capacity study never took place, and the government abdicated its role in immigration policy because it had no vision or understanding of the long-term effects.

The result is that Malta has become an acutely overpopulated country.

So, the question is only natural: what great infrastructural changes have we made to be able to cater for these numbers? What incredible changes to our long-term policy have we enacted to be able to withstand the pressures that such volumes bring with them?

While we have seen some infrastructural projects from time to time, we are certainly nowhere close to saying that we are well equipped or suited to be able to cater for such numbers. And the proof is in the pudding, because every summer, we experience our infrastructure crumbling under the weight of the heightened demand the season brings with it.

Starting off, with the obvious. Our power supply just cannot withstand the demand created in the warmer season, and wide-spread power-cuts are the order of the day, bringing with them embarrassment, and hardships for everyone.

Our streets are absolutely gridlocked for most hours of the day, all year round. But until not too long ago, we used to notice a decidedly noticeable shift once schools were out.  This is no longer the case sadly, since the streets are a nightmare for locals and guests no matter the season.

Sadly, all this has already started to leave some unsavoury feedback. No one is ever pleased when we read reports, like the one of earlier this week, when the BBC called our beloved Comino and Blue Lagoon Hell on Earth! How did we get to this point? How did we allow the horse to bolt so irredeemably and beyond any form of control? Can someone check on the goose that lays the golden eggs?

It all boils down to lack of vision, and lack of political will to implement it. We all thought that the handsome electoral mandates repeatedly granted to the Labour Party would have motivated it to bring some amazing change in areas that really needed some enlightened yet robust leadership. Alas, sadly, the only motivation the Labour Party ever had was to favour its closest and dearest, with absolutely no regard to what the long-term effect would be.

It is no wonder that many people still want to, given the opportunity, leave the island, and start a new life afresh elsewhere.

We cannot give up. This is our country, and we are duty bound to propose a new way of doing things, one that looks at the long term, and favours the common good over favouritism. Sadly, the Labour Party is far too tired and dry of ideas to come up with such a new vision. It is only the Nationalist Party that can provide it.

Dr Darren Carabott is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Security and Reforms, and President of the Public Accounts Committee