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Monday the 13 February 2006 was the day after the last local council election for one-third of the localities of the Maltese islands. I do not believe that somebody had been surprised by the result; the writing had been on the wall since before the election of the MEPs, but in my opinion the last beating has been the greatest since then.
I am sure that even the highest person of the Nationalist hierarchy had ever thought of a victory. The haemorrhage of the Nationalist supporters had long been coming, in my opinion just before the change at the helm. The title of this letter had been used before after all the last three or fourth elections, and also again the same excuses that we heard before. The mention of the change, the deficit the surcharge, wardens and a hundred more items had become a household words, plus that there is some more years to come for the general election. In my opinion this is dangerous thinking, because time wait for nobody, and what if the people do not accept sugar coated pills.
The low turnout from those eligible to vote is a clear signal that the interest in local councils is waning, and also a clear message to the central government that is useless to try and hide behind those that the same government had created. But those who are at the helm answered arrogantly back, the result was good, the government will keep moving on as it is in the nation’s interest. I do not think that anybody will protest against the government for reducing the deficit. I will not, I don’t even protest against the surcharge, I do not protest because the government is concerned about future pensions. On the contrary, I protest against an irresponsible opposition which washed its hands from a future great problem. I do not protest with the government foreign policy; but I do protest against the arrogance of certain ministers which are giving a black spot to the whole government.
I do protest against giving autonomy to certain entities, I do not have the mind; the Courts, the Broadcasting Authority or MEPA, even when this authority is far from perfect. It is essential for a democracy that these three and perhaps the police are autonomous, but surely not others. I protest that the government hides behind them. I protest against the massive percentage of the inheritance tax, the slow extinction of the middle-class since John Dalli’s last two budgets, about the daily harassment of wardens and their shooting from the hip. One needs to look in a certain newspaper once weekly to see six, seven pages of criminals waiting to be judged for their crimes.
I protest not of speed cameras if they are installed correctly, but I do about surveillance cameras which are installed not to protect against vandalism or monuments, but to sustain local councils. What else? The list is endless. If I am not correct, I apologise. The PM is reported that he said on this day too, that some of these protests are personal. But why should anyone have a personal grudge against Dr Lawrence Gonzi? Notably yes, because he is the man at the helm and because of that he is responsible. On this same day my daughter received a citation to answer why 20 days before she drove her car or parked her car on a continuous white line, a fine of Lm10. Do we agree if I say, that it was a big and grave crime, but the joke is that when I asked her, she said, “how should I know 20 days after what I did then, when I never received or had a ticket on my windscreen.”
Of course she sent a petition to the board to judge it. What do you want me to do Mr Lawrence Gonzi for these things: clap my hands or protest about them? I am sure that you tell me to protest, but then how shall I protest, I don’t have the power that you have, that wherever you go, like in Mosta square for example, you find the police preparing a place for your car? That is the method by which democracy gives the citizens and I the right to protest – our vote. And perhaps like me, they are sorry about what they did but they had no alternative. It was not my turn to vote this time, and honestly I am sorry for what I am writing, but I too have no other alternative.
Joseph Muscat
Mosta
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