Pride and prejudice

An event which succeeds in bringing together heads of state and government from 53 different countries, from five continents and involving 1.8 billion people is by all standards an international happening of particular relevance. It is therefore with a sense of pride that we should look upon the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and the parallel meetings taking place in Malta this week.

The Commonwealth, which accounts for one fifth of global trade, is today a vibrant organisation working not only at governmental level but also at people's level. It functions mainly through consensus and, while its political impact can be limited, its political relevance is substantial.

There is also a social face to the Commonwealth and it is also important to face the Commonwealth's limitations. Yet, the Commonwealth can be made use of to further the interests of member states through other bodies such as the WTO and the UN.

Another serious limitation is the fact that the Commonwealth is not directly involved in the human rights issues to the same extent that the Council of Europe is through the European Convention of Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.

The Commonwealth also works through parallel organisations. Organisations related to youth, business and to people's issues are each holding their forums these days prior to the heads of government meeting. The concept governing these organisations is that of civil society in action. The evolution is from representative government to participatory governance.

The countries of the Commonwealth have different stages of development. They all face the problems and challenges of the modern age. Malta is no exception. If anything, we do compare better than others in so far as levels of employment are concerned.

Yet, it must be emphasised that unemployment, suffered by any worker is a great hurt. It not only affects the person directly involved, it affects his long-term activity, his family, and has a wider effect on the general economy of a country. The number of persons who are to receive unemployment notices from the Denim companies does therefore create widespread anxiety.

It is here that the negative side to globalisation is visibly having its effect, and where our own progress is causing our competitiveness in certain areas to lose its edge. We cannot however in such cases reverse that trend. No one wants competitiveness at the cost of our salaries. What we therefore need and are striving towards, is competitiveness on the basis of higher production, less bureaucracy, highly skilled and better trained workers. We have to move from the job for life scenario to the employability for life concept. If we succeed in all this, the right environment for foreign direct investment and further jobs will be assured.

In this context the "national protest" to be organised by the General Workers' Union - at a time when the Commonwealth Business Forum attended by over 300 foreign delegates, including potential investors, is taking place - is an event which should have at best not taken place. For who is the GWU really targeting by this protest: the government, foreign delegates, possible foreign investors or the workers themselves?

I have my reservations as to whether any potential investor or delegate may be impressed by the GWU's claims as to "arrogance" by the government or as to the level of unemployment in Malta. But it may affect negatively and prejudice the disposition of any such potential investors attending the forum to invest here. No one is stopping the GWU from making its own protest march. No one except the good sense that harming one's own image is counter-productive and prejudicial to the country's and workers' interest and well-being.

The CHOGM is another occasion where we, as a people and even more as a nation, can and should be acting in unison. The debate on foreign affairs in the budget has manifested clear common currents. The need for a bipartisan approach to tackle issues of a national interest should however go beyond foreign affairs. This is in the common interest of the country. For this does effect the common wealth and welfare of our people.

Dr de Marco is a Nationalist MP.