If they can’t service Malta, what have they, in fact, offered Albania?

Is this too to be “subcontracted” to the Emirati indian slave market?

Let us deconstruct, because I feel we always get stuck at the level of lists of achievements and projects.

The greatest and best thing that Nationalist administrations did was connectedness. And that was what led to Malta’s improved living standards and economic metrics. Not the power stations, or MCAST.

It was the connection to the rest of the world. We often overlook this fact, because the Maltese have been conditioned to believe that isolating oneself and putting up barriers (us, alone, against the world, ckejkna Malta) is the right and heroic thing. It is not. It is stupid and suicidal.

I read a comment by Daphne Caruana Galizia recently, about this “Malta is the best country in Europe” nonsense. She’s so right. Malta is not the best country in Europe. Nor is it “di bast”. Because “the best”, as the Maltese see it, means the homestead. Little Malta the brave and self-sufficient.

The interconnector cable was the physical embodiment of the connectedness that is Malta’s only chance of ever entering modernity. This too was overlooked, and the whole thing was relegated to the category of “progetti ghad-dawl u l-ilma”. How stupid.

European Union membership was also about connectedness. Again, it was understood as Us, Alone, versus The Rest, succesfully squeezing out more funds from the rich foreign bastards. How stupid.

Dak mhux jahdem ghal paga imma jiehu l-paga. Hemm differenza kbira.

Rings a bell, as for over 40 years ago, Mintoff mentioned the “industrija tal-kappar”.

But within 4 years, Malta had become the first country in the world to have a totally digital system, largely piloted by the late Pierre Muscat. It was the first and possibly greatest investment the Nationalist government made in this country – despite a hostile General Workers Union causing trouble non-stop and two useless shipyards draining the economy faster than you could say “black hole”.

The airport, roads, hospital, Gozo ferries, sea terminals, yacht marinas, MCAST and University of Malta development, power stations and the new parliament house would follow in due course.

Nationalist governments also introduced local councils, despite massive Labour Party efforts to reduce it to a farce and, best of all, they guided us into the European Union, giving new generations endless new opportunities that those of us who are now in middle age never had.

As you can see, Nationalist governments delivered, big-time. Without constant scandals, without widespread corruption, without breaching the Constitution (maybe once?).

Yet these past three years have already been enough to show you that Labour just don’t cut the mustard. 2013 was a mistake. Don’t repeat it in 2018.

REPORT ON THE CAPER INDUSTRY
A Chinese company is aiming to invest to examine how capers are grown and processed successfully and profitably. Capers could become a new and exciting industry and an important sector of our economy.

Hudu go fikhom ja qatta negattivi.

That’s what people always think. He wasn’t blocking him. He was just standing at the doorway.

Bedingfield’s probably blocked him.