Before the second world war, Cospicua, was deemed to be an affluent city. However, the war changed the gentrification of Cospicua, leaving it forgotten for several years. Growing up in the street of Cospicua between the 1980s and 1990s, was quite difficult. We faced prejudice, as well as discrimination. Even when applying for a traineeship or a summer job, the LAU postcode, did play an important role in the decision process.
Certainly, when someone comes from a different socioeconomic background, the probability is that they go with the system. The improbability is to challenge the system, and work hard to do exactly the opposite through social mobility. Last week I bumped into a childhood friend. Alas, we had to encounter each other at a funeral. At the doorstep of the Paola Basilica, he told me this “Clint did you ever realise, that you don’t owe anything to anyone”. At that point I was left flabbergasted with his statement. However, I kept thinking. True, when I look back, it dawns on me, that the only thing I owe is gratitude towards our former politicians, who had a great vision and enabled social mobility. They provided universal free education, and the opening of wider university courses to future generations.
When I look back, I realise that I had to work two part-time jobs, while I was still pursuing my undergraduate degree, and taking care of my grandparents. I never found cooked meals at home. And I had to catch four non-airconditioned buses to commute to Sliema for my part-time job. I never expected anything from anyone. It was truly a struggle. However, when completing my undergraduate degree, I applied for a full-time job. Mind you, it was not that easy to find a job in 2008. The only available vacancies for junior economists were either, at the MFSA, the Central Bank of Malta or the Economic Policy division within the government. When I joined the Central Bank of Malta, I was still enrolled in a part-time course at the University of Malta. I was reading a Master of Arts in Economics. It was not easy to fulfil the duties of a full-time job and studying. However, with the provision of study leave, and the cooperation of colleagues, somehow, it’s manageable. When I completed my Master of Arts degree in Economics, I took a gap year from studies. I started lecturing basic economics at the University of Malta and revising mathematical finance. In 2010, I applied for a scholarship, which was subsequently awarded in the second quarter of 2011.
Towards the third quarter of 2011, I left Malta to pursue another postgraduate degree. This time, it was a Master of Science in Economics and Finance. The time I spent in the UK, was a time of reflection. It was not an easy feat. The material presented to students, not least the mathematical complexities of finance, were truly painful. It was a period where I really felt at ease, experiencing what freedom of expression, democracy, fairness and justice truly mean within the academic world. Returning to Malta towards the end of 2012, just right after my studies, was quite difficult to readjust to the system. The insecurities of those at the highest echelons of an institution or politics are actually ridiculous. You find all sorts of spokes in the wheels, without allowing you to grow further in your career. Today, it’s become even worse.
After the PL’s 2013 victory, we were told that my husband would be appointed ambassador of Malta to Belgium. Hence, I left my full-time job to join an internship at the European Parliament in Brussels. Meanwhile, I had the choice to join the National Bank of Belgium. After 11 months in Brussels, I was employed at the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU, as economy and budget attaché. The job followed an interview, and the normal process within the public service calls. It was not a position of trust. I spent 3.5 years in this post, even presiding the Budget Committee of the EU during the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2017.
When the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU was over, I reapplied for another term. However, Dr. Helena Dalli, our outgoing EU Commissioner, truly believed in me, and asked me to consider the post of Political and Security Committee Ambassador. I was not sure about it and gave it a bit of time to think and consider the post. The preceding Maltese PSC representatives were always appointed from the pool of personnel within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When I was appointed, it was the first time that the PSC representative came from the pool of personnel within the Ministry of European Affairs. I spent 4 years in the post, and it gave me a better insight of our interconnectedness, and the effects of sanctions, restrictive measures, and development aid on the world economies.
When we set a date to leave Belgium, a year earlier, I informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as my superior that I won’t be renewing my contract beyond 2021. Indeed, when I came back to Malta, a few months later, I was asked to consider running for the MEP elections. I was not sure about it because I love what I am doing in the private sector. However, I kept testing waters. When I decided to run for the MEP elections, I never asked the Maltese government for any favours. Well, not even afterwards. Gladly, I did everything by myself with the help of volunteers. After the EU parliament elections, several genuine people, who like me, are in love with the PL, approached me to consider a post within the internal structures of the party. Obviously, I did not want to take rushed decisions, and opted to stay out of it, at least, for now. Thankfully, I am free to decide about my future. Certainly, I am only obliged to those who believed in me. And these are all the volunteers who helped me in the campaign, and my voters.
Good luck to all those who threw their name for a post within the internal structures of the PL. After the 13th of September, I tell you more about it!