The Office of the Prime Minister has distributed copies of a 224-page glossy book printed on thick high quality paper about Labour's latest gimmick - Malta Vision 2050.  In the run-up to a general election a multi-million euro single night extravaganza to launch Vision 2050 just won't do.  You need to really shock and awe the electorate at every turn - billboards, social media adverts, buses spray painted with Labour's Vision 2050 logo, banners in the streets and of course that empty reflecting cube beside the Tritons fountain. And the glossy coffee table book.

That massive tome sent out by Labour's propagandists in Castille was meant to lay out plans for the future of this country.  But as soon as you open it you're hit with full A4 size images of Prime Minister Robert Abela and a couple of pages later his economy minister Silvio Schembri, smiling enigmatically. Abela shares some of his great wisdom - "The future is a decision".  And almost immediately after you're treated to a colour photo of Ronald Mizzi, Konrad Mizzi's favourite permanent secretary and currently facing court proceedings on charges of alleged misappropriation of public funds and fraud.  He's the man in charge of Labour's Vision 2050. Because who better to put in charge of a multi-million euro propaganda budget to squander on direct orders to Labour-friendly contractors on the eve of an election than a man charged with misappropriating public funds?

If you had any doubt whether that glossy publication was an absolute waste of our money you just need to read a couple of the vacuous fluffy AI rubbish in it. It kicks off with probably one of the corniest statements of the lot - "The future of Malta begins today". "A safe and resilient nation, inspired by heritage and driven by progress fostering a healthy quality of life for all," reads one random statement in gigantic font with a bright pink background.  That total inanity could apply to any country in the world. It's swiftly followed by some classic overcompensation, in an unconscious attempt to mask those feelings of inadequacy - "Malta has always punched above its weight. Shaped by a rich blend of cultures and a strong sense of identity, the country continues to build on a history that stretches back thousands of years, writing a story that is still very much in the making". Did anybody even read this trash before sending it to the printers?

With no hint of irony that glossy publication refers to Malta Vision 2050 as "a coherent future-ready framework". The only thing that useless "vision" is ready for is to be dumped into the nearest trash can. Just look at the four pillars presented in that document - sustainable economic growth, accessible people-centred services, a resilient country and modern education system, and finally smart land and sea usage. Did we really need to spend millions upon millions of euro to come up with such silliness?  The whole thing reads like a secondary school project.

The whole thing would be comical if it weren't so depressing. In true Labour form the whole Vision 2050 seeks to dazzle with dreams of "economic growth" and "high -value, innovation-led prosperity".  Just looking at the index of that heavy volume shows exactly where Labour's priorities lie.  Under A there is ageing and aviation - but no accountability. Under D there is development, digital, digitalisation and diversification - but no mention of democracy.  Under I there is identity, infrastructure and investment - but no integrity.  Under R there is resilience and resilient - but no rule of law.  And under T there is tourism, trade and transport but no transparency, especially about the money spent on Vision 2050.

The empty shiny cube at the entrance to Valletta is symptomatic of Labour's Vision 2050 - a glittering monstrous structure which is entirely hollow inside. It's sold as a "temporary immersive pavilion that hosts interactive artistic experiences". There is absolutely nothing interactive about it.  You just stand or sit on the floor if you prefer and watch a very glitzy but entirely amateurish video projected onto the four walls.  The publicity material about the "Malta Vision 2050 Cube" claims that it showcases the government's long-term national strategy, allowing visitors to explore Malta's future through educational exhibits, digital displays, and visual showcases of the country's upcoming projects".  There's certainly plenty of digital displays but certainly no educational exhibits. The whole 15-minute video played at ear-splitting volume is embarrassing in its shallowness and mediocrity. The visual effects may be great, the sound engineering professional but there is absolutely no substance, no depth, no vision.

There is no reference to the real challenges the country faces, no reference to the dark events of the recent past - the widespread corruption, the murder of a journalist to conceal that corruption, the role of the state in paving the way for the assassination, the utter failure to deliver justice or to implement the radical changes recommended in the subsequent inquiry, the institutional failure to prosecute and convict politicians involved in corrupt deals and to investigate those who amassed massive unexplained wealth. There's no reference to the glaring cronyism, the brazen nepotism, the multi-million illegal direct orders or the sanctioning of illegal developments. Improving transparency, protecting journalists, facilitating freedom of information requests or strengthening the rule of law don't even feature in Labour's blinkered vision.

As to how much we've all paid for that empty shiny cube Robert Abela won't tell you. He was asked in parliament how much that vanity project cost.  He dodged the question only replying that the cube was funded by part of the 4.5 million euro allocated for Malta Vision 2050. When asked whether a permit had been issued for that eyesore, Abela replied that since it's considered "an artistic work" it didn't require any Planning Authority permit.  Both the OPM and Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi repeatedly refused to disclose how many millions were spent on the cube.   Two months after it was installed Abela claimed "the information was still being gathered".  A Freedom of Information request lodged by the Shift and seeking answers about its cost remain unanswered. Minister Clyde Caruana refused to answer questions, instead directing them to the OPM.

Labour's Vision 2050 is nothing but a whitewashing of Malta's dark stains. It lacks the basic maturity to recognise that national greatness cannot be achieved without a reckoning of our many disturbing national failures. Labour's glorification of our past and the glamourisation of our future demonstrates one thing - that Labour lacks the honesty and courage to even acknowledge those failures, let alone address them for the benefit of the nation.