Four years: Eye-opener

I am writing this article on a fine Sunday morning, in the midst of a massive government campaign highlighting the ‘achievements’ of the first four years of this administration.

Aglitzy campaign, funded by taxpayers, which says that the sun had risen for the first time in this country in March 2013. Ironically, one of the Sunday newspapers leads with a survey on the same morning which shows that concern on corruption has reached an all-time high.

Having corruption so high on the national agenda is thanks to an Opposition which has relentlessly, and effectively, brought to the fore a number of scandals involving various influential figures of this administration. To name them all is a tall order.

However, what I consider as truly remarkable is that the Opposition was not there just to point fingers and criticise. These past four years were also marked by a number of policy documents full of feasible proposals and promises which will start to be rolled out on day one of a new PN-led administration. They are not the fruit of anyone’s dream, but the result of thorough consultations, and public meetings in certain areas.

The environment, sustainable development, small businesses, Gozo, clean politics and the economy were all part of comprehensive policy documents. In them, the Party has laid out a number of core principles which will be the basis of future direction for the country.

The list is not final. The Opposition leader has announced that party financing proposals are also being drawn up, as well as those concerning young people. This is a remarkable pro-active approach which shows that the Opposition is raring to go to start implementing its own alternative programme for the benefit of all.

This country is at a crossroads. In Joseph Muscat’s own