Each day that goes by I meet new people, some that I know quite well and others that I don’t. Some I’ll spend time talking to them and getting to know them a bit more, and others won’t be interested so obviously I respect their decision and move on. One thing is clear however, the feeling I’m getting is quite similar from everyone.
No one is doubting that the economy is in a good state, no one doubts that there are ample of job opportunities out there for anyone that wants to work and on top of that no one doubts that this government is corrupt, however the sense I get is that there are those people out there that are happy with that as long as it doesn’t affect them directly.
An interesting conversation I had earlier last week was with a staunch Labourite. One of those that before the last election you used to seem him bounce from one job to another, never lasting more than a few months, and today he’s working as a cleaner with one of the many government entities.
He started the conversation with the obvious remarks that I happen to hear a lot from those staunch labourites ‘taħlix ħinek ħabib, ejja magħna ha tiħu gost u taqla lira’ At which this time I decided to engage in a small chat with this guy. I told him to explain what he actually meant and he told me that it would be much easier if I switch over to them as in return I can easily make a good amount of money.
I let him talk for a bit and then asked him whether he thinks that that is the right thing to do and whether he considers that to be corruption. To which he said that of course it is, however that’s fine because in the meantime him and his friends are all employed in cushy jobs and they are earning a living.
That is the scenario that we find ourselves in today. While people are finding jobs and the economy is on the rise, it’s widely accepted that the government and those working in high ranking roles in the government are getting their fair share of commission. What’s worse is that some people are fine with it. They’re happy as they think it’s not effecting them directly.
I don’t want to sound or be perceived as a negative individual, frankly I’m glad that economy is doing ok, I’m glad that people are finding jobs, I’m glad that there’s an influx of foreigners seeking to come to Malta to make a living as we will then reap the benefits form what they spend here. What annoys me however is that we seem to have built this lull feeling, this numbness, that we’re accepting corrupt individuals to run this country.
Isn’t it time to unite together and say, you know what Mr. Prime Minister? No it’s not fine to have your chief of staff and your super minister opening companies in Panama. No it’s not fine that Libyans can pay a large sum of money to be given a visa in a corrupt manner. No it’s not fine to give millions to the Café Premier, no it’s not fine for Gaffarena to do what the hell he wants and gets away with it scot-free.
We, the young individuals of this beautiful country; we, the future of this country that hopefully we have to inhibit for the next 50 years or so (if we’re lucky!), we owe it to ourselves and to those that come after us to unite together and get rid of any crooked individual that is making a living on the back of backhanders and illegal commissions. Only then we can be proud that we’re living in a beautiful island and only then we can dream of doing the impossible possible.
If this country is ran by those that love what they do and love the country, then yes we can dream that one day our National Football Team qualifies to the European Championship or the World Cup. Yes then we can dream that one day Malta secures an Olympic gold in one of the many sports. However before we can ever dream of achieving something huge like this, first of all we need to clean our act.
We need to clean the government of all its crooked individuals and make sure that those that lead us means well for the country. Once the country is cleaner then we will get more professional in what we do, once we do that than all the national associations will improve their professionalism as well and only then we can start dreaming of achieving the impossible dream.
My dear Maltese brothers and sisters, dream as if you’ve never dreamt before. Think big, think huge. This country can achieve much more if we only work towards one goal, one aim and one target; to clean the country of its corrupt practices. We can do this, however we can only do it together.
