With time, an essential problem in the governance of Malta has become apparent. It is not that we lack good or adequate legislation. True, existing laws could be improved or updated but with the format in which they were passed by the Maltese Parliament they have what it takes to furnish the necessary guidance.

It's in its enforcement that legislation frequently proves ineffective, as can be seen when it comes to environmental issues, traffic and road management, construction, controls over drug abuse, consumer affairs... Public authorities do not show the required determination and straight action that can safeguard what needs to be safeguarded. But they're not solely responsible for the failures. The citizens themselves expect everybody else to be kept in check, excepting themselves...

Then there are the professional people, some of whom specialise in how to discover cracks in the laws that allow one to circumvent them... And among others, there are the developers, the hunters and trappers, the shop owners...

Indeed on this issue our nation as a whole, needs to recite the mea culpa.

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

For someone like me who spent time in the US as a foreign student in American universities, what is happening there at the moment feels and sounds bizarre. The Trump administration seems to be doing its best to keep away from America foreign young people who'd like to study there. In their great majority, they would be paying thousands of dollars for the privilege.

In my "time", there was such a great welcome given to foreign students (or I did find it) that to finish my studies, I was even supplied with funds when mine ran out. The prevailing philosophy then was that the participation of foreigners in American studies was of benefit to the American nation.

The present admnistration disagrees with this. It claims that a large percentage of foreign students come from China and that it does not want to provide any prop to the Chinese government. Naturally the Europeans are now exploring how best to attract to their continent the students that America is busily striving to expel.

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IF IT AIN'T BROKE

Trying to introduce reforms in policy making cannot but be considered a most useful activity. However, it shouldn't be allowed to degenerate to the point where one seeks change just for the sake of change. Sometimes in this country and beyond, one sees such a temptation emerge. Not all that our predecessors have done, no matter which party they belonged to, is wrong and needs to be changed, not least in financial matters.

On this aspect, the memorable quote remains that provided by Bert Lance, who ran the Office of Management and Budget in the administration of US President Jimmy Carter: If it ain't broke, he said, don't fix it. It's very sensible advice.

On a large or small scale, human civilisation develops in layer upon layer, building on the social and technical achievements of the past. Where things have been done well, one builds on that not applies brakes to dismantle and start building again from the beginning.