Guest Post: Leaving Malta Is Not Enough. We Must Fight Together To Make A Change

Healthy Criticism

We mustn’t be afraid to criticise. We mustn’t be afraid to make our voices heard. How can we attain or even maintain high standards if we do not criticise? How can we let politicians know that they are not doing a good job, without criticising?

In the relationship we have with the politicians that are elected, remember that WE are the clients. They serve us. Not the other way round. Think of this in any form of business relationship you have. If you are doing up your house with a turnkey contractor and they’ve taken your hard-earned money but provided you with a bad service, wouldn’t you want your money back? If you can’t get your money back, would you ever use this contractor again?

What is white is white. What is black is black. No matter the political party. No matter the person involved.

Our Current Environment

Besides other things, one of my biggest criticisms towards this government is how it has managed to manipulate our society into thinking that quality of life is based on the amount of money you have in your pocket. This is completely farcical.

Quality of life is based on how happy you are to live in the environment that you exist in. Look at the state of our country. Look at the state of our home.

• We have the poorest air quality in all of Europe. Speak to your doctor and ask about the high increase in lung-related problems like asthma over the past few years
• The natural environment is constantly being raped to make way for concrete
• Our streets are dismal in terms of cleanliness
• Crime rate has shot up drastically and people don’t feel safe roaming the streets anymore
• 90% of the tourists we attract are low quality. The government might boast about the numbers, but it is actually more expensive to maintain the damage done by these tourists who only seem to spend money on Mc Donalds and shots from Peppermint. The only marketing that the government does for the country is to promote Malta as a party destination.
• The country has long reached its full capacity in terms of population. After creating massive gaps within the private sector, as suddenly thousands of people started working for the government, the government tried to fix the problem by shipping in containers full of third country nationals. Of course this has now left us completely dependent on them as Maltese people now think that they are beyond working the humble job. If these third country nationals leave – the country will fail.
• Power Cuts have taken over yet another Summer. It’s the middle of August and power cuts are being experienced all over the island. Eyesores of generators have been placed literally on our streets – in front of our homes – also taking up valuable parking spaces.
• Traffic has gotten worse and worse. No road planning whatsoever. Yes roads need to be fixed – but with proper planning. How can you be so short-sighted and close off all the alternative routes along with the road you are fixing up?
• One cannot even walk in peace in the capital city. Everyone does whatever they want by putting all the chairs and tables closing off most of the street. Walking through the capital is exactly the same as trying to get to the toilet in Havana.
• There is no enforcement at all. I do not feel safe in my own country anymore. The government has created a culture where it’s ok to break the law as the lawbreaker knows that there will not be any consequences. Why doesn’t the police commissioner, appointed by the government, ever do anything?
• Now we also have our seas which are completely contaminated. We used to have some of the cleanest seas in the Mediterranean until not long ago.
• A state-of-the-art hospital left to rot by bad management and corruption. We have people dying on chairs in the corridors of Mater Dei.
• No proper planning to battle the highest inflation rates we have ever seen
• Rather than preserving our culture and identity, we always seem to want to destroy it. All those beautiful buildings – destroyed, for ugly concrete. Permits being given out when they shouldn’t on UCA or ODZ land. Just because of a surname. These are to make way for the same ugly, uncharacteristic buildings that we still cannot afford to buy!
• Nepotism across the board. Highly responsible jobs being given to unqualified people just to buy a vote. How can we not criticise? How can we close an eye for all of this? The government has literally failed us in every department. Remember, we are the clients.

My Message

The message I wish to push across is one. Stop. Look around you. Feel. Think. Analyze. Criticise. The country cannot take it anymore. It is literally failing from most aspects.

We’ve lost our souls, our identity, our sense of community, our dignity and our passion for the country. Leaving the country is not good enough. We have to fight together to make a change.

I would like to mainly shout out to youngsters. Teenagers. People my age who are in their twenties. This is not OK. We wouldn’t be here if our parents and grandparents didn’t fight for their rights to a better quality of life. It is our turn.

I’m doing all I can and using my social following for positive change. I very much urge other people with a social following to do the same. Let’s influence positively maybe we can change for the better. I urge you all to use the hashtag #AhnaMahniexKuntenti to raise awareness together. Remember that our only weapon is our unity. And no. I am not happy.

Michael Psaila Debono is a contestant from Liquorish 2023