Last week, I wrote an article about the risk of normalising the abnormal. A friend texted me and asked to be more specific. True, at times I write in a cryptic way, and you have to read between the lines to understand the message, However, last week, I was quite explicit in my call to reach a bipartisan agreement on topics that matter to people.
For instance, I believe that the Opposition and the government can agree on common fundamentals pertaining to the protection of our environment. In principle, they are closer than other parties when it comes to the environment, which means that it is not impossible to reach an agreement. The latest surveys that were in the public domain show that the Maltese are worried about the environment, traffic and foreigners living and working in Malta. I will not use the populist word overpopulation because I would be descending to a far-right narrative, sounding more like Mussolini’s social engineering. Sadly, that is how the narrative is building up, especially by the party in Opposition that prides itself to be liberal and that fought for democracy. There are too many contradictions for a party that pushed Malta’s membership in the EU, and the narrative against foreigners. Scapegoating foreigners working and living in Malta does not make a politician a statesman. And the electorate, especially the liberal ones, regarded as the moderates, get the chills when listening to such a demeaning political narrative.
Let’s for a moment remind the public what the situation was back in 2013. The Nationalist Party in government did good things. If I say the contrary, I lose credibility. However, the last five years of the Nationalist government, especially the utility bills debacle, hit households and businesses badly. At that time, even when you do some research, you find that the Maltese were concerned about the negative economic activity, as well as the astronomical increase in utility prices. I remember aiding the PL at that time given the nature of Ray’s position. I witnessed people who were unable to pay for their utility bills, and desperately rationing the use of electricity. At times I even witnessed chilling dwellings in winter. Others were doing without LPG gas for their heating stoves as they could not afford the fluctuations in prices.
After a decade, such concerns are at the very end of the electorates’ needs. And this following an unprecedented pandemic, coupled with a war in Europe, as well as unparalleled shocks in energy prices, leaving the government with no option but to subsidise prices and pump money in the economy. Hence, it is understandable that now the priorities changed to higher needs, such as the wellbeing of the environment as well as traffic. If we take Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a measure of motivational theory, we realise that the majority of people reached higher needs within the pyramid. People are now demanding a better quality of life, because they are not concerned about paying the utility bills anymore and because people are more affluent. In response, the PL government must act promptly to meet these evolving needs and adopt a new approach to governance.
When it comes to foreigners working and living in Malta, it would be a good idea to explore a private healthcare insurance for TCNs. The government must engage with the Malta Insurance Association to ideally develop a health insurance product for such a purpose, and further engage with the private health care to invest in capacity building to expand their operations, thereby guaranteeing a future demand for their services. It would help easing the pressure on Mater Dei, and in tandem, the government buys the services from the private sector to reduce the waiting lists in healthcare. Personally, I think that a cooperative system of health insurance for TCNs, allowing them to choose between different providers, would foster competition and better rates. It is a big market, and it would expand the private sectors, including additional quality jobs in the service sector. The same applies in private health care. Additionally, I think that the government can publish the costs and prices within the public health care, to also send a signal to the market to indirectly control prices.
When it comes to the environment, it is obvious that the PL government must work hard to prove itself. Unless the ODZ remains ODZ, and any applications for the development of ODZ land received by the Planning Authority, are outrightly rejected, and accompanied by a hefty fine for the processing of administrative work, the electorate won’t take the PL government seriously. Furthermore, the government must engage with the sectors that are highly polluting and start addressing the green transition through proper partnerships with all the stakeholders. I was glad to see the establishment of a new authority, which will deal with climate change. It was the best news of the week. However, may I remind everyone that climate action is not just about the reduction of CO2 emissions, and tradable ETSs. It is also about the environment, nature, biodiversity and the complexity of risks accompanying such a transition. For instance, the government must preserve green areas, agricultural land, prevent marine pollution from aquaculture resources and push for the retrofitting of vessels for mass transportation. The government can also explore the idea of reforming public transport. We need green lanes in major areas, allowing just zero emissions vehicles to use them, as well as public and mass transportation including buses. It would promote the idea for people to switch to cleaner energy and technology, using faster green lanes to arrive from one destination to another. These are the commitments needed and which the electorate is expecting. It is positive discrimination that would further foster credibility. And it would also be music to the ears of young people and those who are at the upper part of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, including the moderates.
Lastly, I believe that we can explore the idea of designating areas where major developments won’t be allowed for certain periods of time. This will give the electorate some breathing space and it would help the government push the concept of retrofitting dwellings in such areas, including minor developments. This is how the government must manage people’s expectations. And I am certain that with such actions the electorate will once again choose a PL government.