Last week, I had the opportunity to visit a friend I hadn’t seen in donkey years. We were childhood friends and reconnected by chance. We eagerly recounted memories from our days in Bormla, often mentioning our neighbours. We realised time had flown by. We recalled our grandmothers and our visits to my mum’s and grandmother’s house.
Reflecting on those days, I realise many Maltese likely share nostalgia for childhood haunts. Long, carefree summer days outside, chatting to neighbours, or seasonal smells and sounds, unite us all. For many, technology was absent, except for the Commodore 64 and, later, the Amiga, which were mostly used for games. Certainly, the old buses seemed to have been built before our parents were born. Well, almost everyone has stories about summers at the sea, bumpy bus rides to the coast, and finding adventure. In our conversation, we recalled the summers spent in Marsaskala. Catching bus number 22 and walking to St Thomas Bay was always a highlight. Back then, both Marsaskala and the St Thomas Bay areas were still pristine. We remember rows of fields and sometimes trespassing just to grab a melon. That was risky, but we were just carefree teenagers. Later, we spent evenings till nine o’clock either at Cool Club, Yogis, X‑Generation, or Osiris clubs. It was just listening to the music of those days. We were never allowed in the Reeds Club, which was for older teenagers.
These memories sparked a deep nostalgia, but also a realisation. Our simple lives in Malta and Cottonera were shaped by both fond community ties and real hardship. We had no luxuries and little income, yet the warmth of neighbourhood bonds contrasted with our economic struggles. The stigma Bormla faced after the second world war only added to our disadvantages. We lived without modern comforts, barely making ends meet, and this difficult reality underpins the true meaning of nostalgia. Today, we complain about everything and hardly want to make any sacrifices or appreciate what we’ve achieved. I remember catching two buses to Sliema for a job as a night auditor when I was just 17. And, coupled with 12 hours of work, was my duty to care for my grandparents and to cope with my studies. Today, we have the luxury of choosing and changing jobs. I remember the early 1990s, when children’s allowances became means‑tested, and the rise in prices when the property market was liberalised. I do not blame the younger generation today for not knowing what life was like. True, it is hard to afford certain properties today. In truth, it’s always been the case. However, that is the model we built once it was liberalised. Alas, there was no aid in my time either, no government grants, no stamp duty waivers, and no help with VAT reimbursements on finishes.
The way we built apartments and some urbanised areas in Malta shows how we think as a nation. This brings us to the issue of partisan politics, which must stop. For example, the Nationalist Party cannot blame the Partit Laburista in government for property prices. In reality, it is the way we shaped our economy over the past four decades. While in government, they did nothing to stop property prices from rising astronomically, especially before Malta joined the EU between 2002 and 2004. And they cannot do it. Although I am one of those who advocate for affordable housing, I do not blame the problem on the current administration, as it has been long in the making. It is true that the past two economic shocks amplified, further increasing prices and perhaps landing us in a new state. And I wrote extensively about it in my articles, a K-Shaped economy.
Certainly, I advocated for solutions to aid the younger generation and to build additional affordable housing units. However, politicians on the other side of the bench cannot blame the property industry either. Some politicians on the opposite benches seem to simplify things and blame everything on the current administration just to score a little brownie point with the electorate. In fact, those working in property see it as a profession, with many agents working in this area and several others earning their income. It is their bread and butter, and we cannot blame anyone or politicise the industry. We must find the right balance as a country. The current PL administration improved pensions, supported young people buying property with the €10,000 grant, and introduced numerous social benefits, including a carer’s grant, in‑work benefits, and free childcare. The full list is extensive.
Nostalgia is natural, but it is important to remember what was lacking in the past compared to today. Still, some past values should be preserved. The strong sense of community, neighbours supporting each other, and the joy of time spent with family enriched our lives. Though life was harder, shared bonds and a sense of belonging made a difference. Incorporating these connections and communal spirit into today’s fast‑paced world would benefit society. However, even as we value these past lessons, we must ask ourselves a hard question. The question is whether we are ready to return to a life with less income and services. Are we ready to give up our cars to less traffic, our holidays abroad, our mobile phone contracts to be freer, our internet to stop contact with the rest of the world, and many other things to return to a simpler life? Are we ready to reduce our GDP, shrink the economy, and give up many of our social benefits, including the energy subsidies? Are we ready to accept higher energy bills and higher childcare costs? Or are we ready to give up on many other benefits that nobody dreamt of in 2013? I believe the answer is no.
According to reading polls (Eurobarometer), the majority want to keep earning money, enjoy life, benefit from lower taxes, and live better. Surely, we are better off in terms of income and benefits. However, if we grow nostalgic about the past, we must also accept that we lived deprived of many things that make our lives easier. This is the question many need to ask when they go to the ballot box in a few months’ time. Are we better off or worse off? Looking at both the progress made and the lessons of the past decade, I believe that the current administration and Prime Minister Abela deserve another chance.
