As tomorrow many of us will be returning to work, after a much-deserved Christmas break, we will be picking up were we left off in mid-December. The more ambitious of us will also be engaging in some form of new year resolution exercise, because, what better time to embark on some needed self-improvement, than the start of a new calendar year?

So, to change things up a bit, I wish to make a short list of new year resolutions for Government, about the areas that in my view most urgently need some attention and are in dire need of addressing.

At the top of the country's priorities is the growing population, which needs to be addressed, with certain haste. Overpopulation is no longer something economists discuss. It is felt daily on congested roads, in overcrowded waiting rooms, in rising rents and in shrinking public spaces. Addressing it, is now an urgent need. In 2026, people are expecting the Government to show leadership and long-term vision that aligns migration, housing, infrastructure and employment with the country's real capacity, not with political expediency.

My second new year resolution is about inflation, which continues to erode purchasing power, and placing families under relentless pressure. Households are feeling the strain as they see their purchasing power erode by the day, at the supermarket, at the pharmacy and when paying utility bills. In 2026, the Government must not rely solely on token pay checks but rather strive to create a stronger economy that provides better paying opportunities.

Environmental degradation is another serious issue that needs addressing, and hence is my next new year resolution. The declaration of random central strips as open spaces, just because a Minister anoints them so, is embarrassing for the Minister as well as the public who is subjected to the charade. In reality, once lost, open spaces cannot be reclaimed. Yet development decisions too often prioritise speed and profit over sustainability and long-term planning. In 2026, Government must understand that protecting the environment is not an obstacle to progress, but a prerequisite for a future that is worth inheriting.

Next new year resolution - Healthcare, a pillar of social stability, which has also been under immense strain. For many years, we have boasted a strong and generous universal healthcare system which has been the pride of every citizen. Today unfortunately, long waiting lists, staff shortages and overstretched services are the highly unfair deal our country is having to contend with on the daily. In 2026, Government must see that our healthcare system is up to scratch and properly equipped to sustain the needs of Malta's population.

Public safety, and the general respect for the rule of law, have also become a growing concern, as communities expect to feel secure in their neighbourhoods, on the roads, and confident that the law is equal for all.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and a growing sense of lack of discipline in many areas of daily life needs to be addressed in 2026.

At the heart of all these issues, is a growing sense that the country has been missing the forest for the trees for many years, and priorities have become blurred. Too often, decisions appear driven by short-term political convenience rather than by a clear vision of what genuinely serves families, workers and communities in the grand scheme of things.

Furthermore, the growing gap between promises made and promises kept continues to widen, as people have started to realise that the rhetoric of billboards and expensive campaigns on TVM, are just a shiny venire that hides a much starker truth underneath.

Grand declarations of 'L-Aqwa Budget fl-Istorja' (The Best Budget in History), ring absolutely hollow when people are struggling to make the rent, to make the end of the month, let alone to become home-owners.

Credibility is lost when governments overpromise and underdeliver. It also exposes a sense of panic and how out of touch they are. If this government is unwilling or unable to address these issues, then the alternative must be ready. A Nationalist Government, no matter when the time will come, will be prepared to address these challenges with integrity, responsibility and a long-term vision.

Malta deserves leadership that looks forward, plans carefully and governs with the people's long-term wellbeing firmly at heart.

I wish the readers of the Malta Independent on Sunday, the very best for the new year.