Gozo News

Three MEPs were elected. Three from each political party, one of whom is from Gozo. I would like to congratulate all the elected MEPs who have only one goal for the European Union, which is to bring honour and progress to our island.

I do sympathize with those who received a large number of votes but ultimately lost the election. Wish them the best next time.

Labour won this election, but contrary to previous elections, only by a narrow margin. The Prime Minister acknowledged this and promised to work to correct the sentiments of supporters and others who did not bother to collect their votes, and those who had votes but refused to do so.

Many will debate the reasons for the lack of interest shown in the results. As a committed Labour Party member, I feel I must put my personal thoughts on paper for all who care to read. Perhaps some of them will not go unnoticed.

Dom Mintoff’s Reforms

Due to my age I only remember Mintoff’s leadership in office and in opposition. I do remember the establishment of schools, colleges, technical institutes, agriculture, free hospital care, reform of various social services, the introduction of a 40 hour workday in 1955, married women being able to keep their government jobs after marriage, and most importantly “equal pay for equal work” as previously men were paid more than women.

Married and engaged couples can enjoy residential areas, plots and “Lohumbus” financial subsidies in proportion to personal income. As a result, the proportion of Maltese people who own private homes is very high.

The cost of materials and food has also been brought under control, which is the opposite of what happened in the past few years. The prices of rent, property, food, ars and restaurants have been rising uncontrollably.

Greed is the norm in modern society in recent years. Although the government has recently reached an agreement with importers on some goods to keep prices stable. But whenever you go to any type of bar, restaurant, various shops, you can see that prices have been rising without any control.

Prices and rents of all kinds of properties have reached astronomical figures that are simply unaffordable for ordinary workers.

Today, greed is king. Everyone wants to jump on the bandwagon and get rich overnight. The cost is that ordinary working and middle class people have to bear these disgusting, inflammatory prices and extra costs.

Equal pay disparity

In 1971, under the government of Dom Mintoff, we achieved equal pay for equal work, but this goal is no longer in place. Employees employed directly by the entity receive more than those employed by the agency for the same work and hours.

Why did this happen, and was it allowed to continue for so long? This happened despite the Labour government having established equal pay for equal work.

Why are these so called “agencies” getting a cut of these workers’ wages for months and years? In my opinion, this is an abuse of power that should be stopped immediately by any labor management department.

Legal and illegal abuse

Why do the authorities allow the squares, embankments, seafront areas to be occupied with music until 1am (imagine living near these shops and bars with music blaring until 1am). It must drive people crazy. I remember Valletta had music and singing at night but it stopped at 11pm. It should be the same now.

Too many tables, chairs and even roads are being misused without legal rights, but the authorities turn a blind eye to complaints from the public.

In Gozo, ambulances, wedding cars and funeral processions can’t even pass through the square because of the illegality and abuse. I remember that the authorities used to come here to check whether the tables and chairs were in compliance with the permit. This is no longer the case. Why?

Lastly, but most importantly, there is construction and illegality happening all over our island.

Why aren’t buildings being built without permits stopped? Why are courts stopping cowboys from building illegally, but “PA approval permits are still issued after court decisions?”

Ordinary people ask why this happens? Many people ask if there is a “Planning Bureau” or “Permit Bureau”?

Why would the authorities purchase construction materials from illegal outlets that do not have business licenses, and why would contracts be awarded to these illegal businesses?

solution

These are the vital programs that the public has strongly criticized. As for other programs, such as the health and social services that are being rolled out, they are the best in the world.

Only when public authorities take responsibility for controlling abuse, overbuilding and illegality will ordinary voters be able to judge and evaluate which party is best suited to govern them.

As a former MP, trade unionist and activist, I find it necessary to be critical where necessary to stop any form of bleeding going any further.

Just as individuals need hospitalization, political entities also need hospitalization, especially political entities that people love and hope for a better future.

That’s why I wrote this post outlining my feelings.

Lino Debono

Data map: Lino Debono