Editorial: The things money cannot buy

Here we go again: confusing ‘doing well’ with ‘well-being’. At the opening of parliament, we heard that “a people cannot aspire towards excellence if income is not being strengthened and improved”.

What a narrow vision that represents!

It is all very well and good for the government to commit to a strong economy and fiscal discipline: that is what good governance demands. But, while no one would say that an appropriate level of income is not important, there are also more abstract measures, many of which were once embedded in our culture.

Somehow, the news that works at Għar Lapsi will not be completed by this summer is symptomatic of the emphasis on the economy and income, as opposed to values, as though one can make up for the other.

We had much to be proud of, from our hospitality to our family values, the fabric which supported and protected us.

It is not just screens and devices which have eroded this; it is also the lure of materialism and the insatiable drive for status – but it is also forgetting the simple pleasures of life.

One of those, increasingly viewed through the smudged lens of nostalgia, is family outings to the beach.

It is a way of life that can still be seen on so many parts of our shoreline and one of the reasons that activists have fought so vociferously for access to be maintained.

Times of Malta carried a story about tourists who went to Għar Lapsi and were disappointed to find it closed.

The beach was also a destination for families who preferred to swim in its beautiful waters than to rent an overpriced sunbed centimetres away from the next one.

It was used by fishermen to store and launch their boats and by divers to access the water. But the power of Storm Harry ripped away entire concrete platforms; much of the debris was cleared up but the work needed to restore it is significant.

So what is causing the delay? It has been five months since the storm but, alas, it does not seem to be as much of a priority as other destinations. Assistance was given to various sectors, from agriculture to aquaculture, as well as to restaurants and bars, which clamoured to re-open as soon as possible.

The sad thing is that it is not money that seems to be the limiting factor: after all, since then millions have been spent on misguided events and dubious direct orders.

The government has the golden opportunity to create a better Għar Lapsi, replacing a destination which has grown haphazardly over the decades into one that allows families and fishermen to make the most of this beautiful location.

It has the opportunity to ensure that it remains as true to its nature as possible, too small to attract unwanted concessions and kiosks.

It has a chance to ensure that it is safe and clean – and to ensure that it is properly regulated and that there is enforcement against abuse.

However, Għar Lapsi is symptomatic of Malta in 2026: too low on the government’s horizon for it to be a priority, does not represent glamorous foreign direct investment, glitzy tourist product, or great photo opportunities.

Why is this important? The government is not meant to just create jobs and better income and attract more investment.

It is also there to provide a safety net and services for those who need them and when they need them. At no cost.