Walk the walk, talk the talk

Malta is a small island, perhaps a jewel that needs polishing, often known for its renowned heritage, hospitality and a good English speaking workforce. Nevertheless, Malta is also known for its divisiveness on issues ranging from foreign football, to the local band clubs, to political parties and to the more sensitive issues such as the economy and social matters.

Our society lacks an important value; it lacks faith in the power of social dialogue to identify our problems and to come up with solutions that should be, in any scenario, neither permanent nor cast in iron.

Whatever decision is taken we all have to learn that this we shall keep and own until that same decision becomes too heavy to carry, circumstances change or go beyond our control in a socioeconomic environment which is not conducive to decisions taken in any given time and introduced to serve a particular purpose.

Decisions need to be taken with the full participation of the stakeholders in all interested sectors. Nevertheless, these solutions must be legitimate and cannot stem from ideological speeches or political partisan rhetoric.

Major or minor surgery are all conducted with the full knowledge that the patient will become once again healthy after a period of convalescence.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin is convinced that Malta's economic and social difficulties need solutions rather than finding someone to blame. Blame is apportioned by people on election day but until then we have to work and find solutions.

Those in the political arena tend to point fingers at each other while making it more difficult for each other to obtain positive results for the citizens of this small island. Workers without decent work cannot have their meals on the table at the end of the day if Malta continues to suffer a decline in its competitiveness when compared with other countries.

All political parties have done their fair share for the benefit of Malta and likewise have failed in their policies, so much so that on different occasions political parties in power were given the marching orders and moved to the opposition benches by the electorate.

Confident that people will continue to use their acumen when they come to choose their representatives, the UHM feels it is high time that our politicians embark on the drafting of a well weaved national economic and social plan that will take Malta to a place where the environment is more conducive to risk-taking by local and foreign entrepreneurs, leading to the creation of more and better paid job opportunities while securing social justice and enhancing welfare.

Without social justice our democracy would be in danger as people may yield to the temptation of authoritarianism or populism, which may offer bread without freedom.

The past may ring a bell or two but we cannot continue to live in the past. The past is our history, which may be glorious for some; for others it may have led to traumatic episodes. Today we have all gained experience and learnt important lessons from the past. However, now is the time to focus more and use wisely the national effort to map the road for tomorrow and the day after.

A basic objective of sound economic policy should be to raise the share in GDP of exports of goods and services as has been achieved by the Czech Republic, Ireland and Singapore to name a few countries.

The road ahead of us is long and winding but all starts with the first few steps. Perhaps the ratification of the European Union Constitution by our parliamentarians is a positive sign which should be further encouraged.

To this extent the UHM recognises what has been achieved in Parliament by the two major political parties. It is worth mentioning because every time a national effort was made success never failed Malta. This certainly is a fresh breeze in our hot Maltese summer.

Hope springs eternal!

Mr Vella is the UHM's secretary general.