Towards a government that puts the citizen first

In the October 26, 1996 general election, the Malta Labour Party based its electoral programme on policies that put the citizen first. Alfred Sant's government never lost sight of this important guiding principle throughout its 22 months of power. The Nationalist governments of both Eddie Fenech Adami and Lawrence Gonzi progressively abandoned this principle and today we have a government that is cut off from the people and which many Maltese citizens find it difficult to identify with.

The Nationalist governments of the last few years remind me very much of the works of that famous author George Orwell. The "Big Brother knows best" principle in the book 1984 summarises the way the Fenech Adami and Gonzi Administrations have treated Maltese citizens. How many times have we heard it said that "the government will listen to the views of all its citizens but will then act as it deems fit"? In other words, the Nationalist government is telling its citizens: "You can do all the talking you want to but we'll act as we deem fit even if you don't agree".

A case in point is that of taxation. Although there are now many Maltese families living on the verge of poverty and although this fact has been pointed out by trade unions and other national entities, the Nationalist government continues to pile on the taxes under one pretext or another. The citizens complain but the government seems to be oblivious to their pleas.

Then there is the question of equality among Maltese citizens. In principle all Maltese citizens are equal but in practice one sees that the situation resembles that of George Orwell's Animal Farm where all are equal but "some are more equal than others". In fact, while the Nationalist government of Lawrence Gonzi continually asks for more and more sacrifices from the ordinary citizens, its top functionaries seem to be exempt from such sacrifices. Remember the Dar Malta farce?

The present Nationalist government has lost the respect of the majority of its citizens precisely because there is a gulf between its words and its actions. Masquerading as a democratic government that listens to the people it is in fact in danger of becoming a technocratic oligarchy that rules by prescription.

The voices of the people are being silenced by citing what the "experts" have to say on a particular matter, by what the members of committees and other small select bodies have to say, by decisions taken around a table at secret meetings not open to the general public.

Government prescriptions are legitimised and rationalised by the government-controlled media. Citizens are bombarded with information about why the government has to act in one way and not in another. The government position is praised as being the correct one while contrasting positions are criticised and ridiculed.

This situation cannot go on. Malta needs a new government that listens to the voice of its citizens, that puts the citizen first in all its policies. Malta needs a Labour government led by that respected leader who, when Prime Minister of Malta, established particular days when the ordinary citizen could phone ministers and parliamentary secretaries and speak frankly to them about any matter falling within their area of competence. Malta needs Alfred Sant at the helm.

Here in Malta we need to rediscover the essence of democracy. We need to remember that there is something wrong when a government does not enjoy the respect of the people. We need to remember that a government's success or failure has to be measured by the extent of its being able to provide prosperity and happiness for the majority of its citizens. A government's democratic credentials depend on its ability to listen to the people.

Only a Labour government can be a government by the people for the people because it is only the Malta Labour Party that puts the citizen first in all its policies. Malta's recent political history is proof of this.