Prosperity and good governance

fulfil their desire for a happy life with family and friends in the community in which they live.

Since March 2013, we have seen that the country’s economic stability is not focused only on structures that promote money-oriented individual wealth, but that it also protects long-term interests and provides its citizens with social and environmental benefits. This means that all citizens are given the opportunity to achieve a level of prosperity through the dignity of their employment and the provisions of justice and equal opportunities.

Indeed, Dr Joseph Muscat’s vision encompasses all the attributes that are considered to be prosperity with a purpose. Leading a united team within Labour’s parliamentary group, the Prime Minister has embarked on a continuous exercise of empowering people to achieve their individual and family goals in a fair and inclusive society. All along, Dr Muscat’s unfailing determination has been an inspiration to the whole nation, with the long list of firsts and several unprecedented results becoming the order of the day.

A respected government

I consider myself honoured to form part of Joseph Muscat’s hard-working innovative and forward-looking team. After decades of laissez faire administrations, this team managed to turn the country’s fortunes around by creating and running a responsible and conscientious administration that earned the respect of its European and international counterparts. In many ways, we have succeeded in convincing people of the diligent sequence of events that led – and is still leading – people towards real prosperity: wealth has been and still is being created and evenly distributed across the country, according to Labour’s long-standing historic commitment to social justice.

Economic growth is essential for a continuum in the nation’s prosperity, and is one of the first steps this administration took in order to build a strong base on which to launch its dream of a society where prosperity includes and secures all the aspects considered to be important to the wellbeing of that society.

As previously described, prosperity is not exclusively linked to economic or financial matters, but is essentially connected with good governance that ensures peace of mind to all those who want to abide by the rules of positive and active citizenship. From the first days following the election of the Labour movement, the nation has savoured the fact that good governance demands that the government commits itself to the protection of human rights and civil liberties and to the creation of a social and financial environment conductive to full human dignity, justice and peace.

As has been proven time and again, despite the endlessly destabilising tactics of a fragmented Opposition, we have experienced the real benefits of good governance. The concept itself involves three core factors: participation and inclusion, accountability and the rule of Law and equality. Notwithstanding the frantic manoeuvres of those who have never accepted the people’s clear democratic decision, we have delivered on all counts and have been entrusted to govern this country by the people twice in succession with increasing majorities. Soon enough, the nation will again reiterate its diligent choice on 25 May.

A mid-term test

In less than a fortnight, Maltese and Gozitans will have already elected their six representatives in the European Parliament and hundreds of candidates to form 68 local councils, 14 of which in Gozo. It is to be noted that the slogan chosen by the Labour Party, Malta f’qalbna (Malta in our heart) for these elections is significantly indicative as it reminds the electorate of the dangers that the nation had to face due to the endless attempts by three MEPs who spent their term of office in Brussels and Strasbourg denigrating Malta’s highest institutions.

Voters will remember the tense moments when our ministers and diplomats worked hard to deny the fabrications orchestrated by the hard-core fragments of the Opposition party. Well-meaning citizens are well aware that these attacks were a desperate and blatant attempt to destabilise the country’s constitutional institutions, as the last resort for those who could not challenge the government’s successes through democratically acceptable means. To say that this was a subversive attack is being kind. Criticising the Labour Government’s policies and measures locally is more than acceptable, but disseminating half-truths abroad is most vicious and condemnable. Voters will now select the best number of MEPs who – first and foremost – have their country at heart .

The national vote on 25 May will also serve as a mid-term test of the government’s general performance. We can proudly face the nation and, with hands on heart, present ourselves with a track record that has seen the country go from chronic deficits to consecutive surpluses, from thousands relying on social benefits to the highest employment growth ever, from a country that lagged behind to a nation of winners.

Local elections

With regard to the vote for Local Councils across both islands, citizens will view to what extent their locality has been cared for and will weigh the performance of their respective councils in an overview of what they had promised to deliver. One thing for sure is that never before, like in the past six years, have Local Councils been supported by the national government.

Residents in all 14 Gozitan localities are well aware of the continuous support provided by the Gozo Ministry through the large amount of work on the infrastructure for which they had been begging for many years, besides other schemes for financial assistance for specific projects. Voters will also keep in mind the Opposition’s attempt to deny them the fundamental right within a democracy when fielding fewer candidates in a subtle, albeit malicious, move to minimise their own humiliation – at the expense of the citizens’ democratic right to cast their vote in both elections.

Brava Michela

The Eurovision Song Contest starts on Tuesday, 14 May, in Tel Aviv with the final programme to be held the following Saturday, 18th May. In the first rehearsal of her up-tempo song Chameleon, our young Michela gave a brightly-lit and colourful performance. Our Gozitan rising star will compete in the second set of semi-finals on Thursday, 16th May. This is the 64th Eurovision Song Contest since the competition’s debut in 1971 and the 31st time that Malta has participated. On behalf of all Gozitans, I wish Michela the very best of luck for her performance at such a young age, in the belief that her charm and talent will make Gozo and Malta proud of their glamorous representative in the prestigious contest. Brava Michela!