N.B. Again, sorry about the length.
Earlier on today, I wrote about how Anne McKenna, the daughter of is-Salvatur ta’ Malta Dom Mintoff, put pen to paper over how she believes that Malta’s economy is currently in a dire state and how a Labour government will save us. In writing, however, I made it very clear that McKenna left out massive chunks of information, as stated by the IMF itself, which claimed that the situation in Malta was not all gloom and doom. This is, of course, how she wishes to portray it, so that Joseph can resurrect the ghouls of the past and everyone can live happily under Labour once again, just like Malta did illegitimately between 1981 and 1987. In this second blog, I will look at her letter sent to The Times and highlight its inaccuracies, following the highlighting of the actual economic situation in the first blog. After all, what’s better than challenging (the most important points of) the message?
Anne McKenna: "The quality of our lives is in steep decline." Because the good old days were when when Malta had id-Deżerta.
1. “A change of Administration has to be for the better. After all, matters could not be much worse: the quality of our lives is in steep decline.”
Just one sentence of McKenna’s letter already highlights how wrong she is. Yes, sure, the quality of life is in ‘steep decline’. This is the reason why the IMF highlighted that the economic outlook for Malta is inherently positive, although Malta has to be very careful in negotiating the choppy waters around us. This is why record investments keep on being announced time and time again. This is why Malta is starting to eventually get a road network worthy of the European Union, although work still has to be done on this front. This is why the economy is performing relatively well, despite the problems that our neighbours have. This is why internet usage is so high today and why a large majority of the population have at least one computer per household. And so on…
2. “In their complacency and arrogance, [the Nationalist Party] blame the demise of the EU recession for our woes.”
Firstly, correct me if I’m wrong, but this does not make sense. The EU recession is still very much alive and is not in any stage of its demise. Secondly, the Nationalist Party has always insisted that despite the EU recession, the country has managed to stay on its feet and perform well (see the examples above as proof positive of what I am saying). The implication behind this is that although the Labour Party promise that they will be ‘safe’, the Nationalist Party already has that track record of ‘safety’.
3. “But take a look at the concluding paragraph, point 13 of the recent IMF report on Malta…”
I already slightly analysed this in my previous blog, and concluded that this point is actually positive and not negative. It calls for “the need to raise productivity growth and further improve competitiveness“. Note the terms ‘raise’ and ‘further’. Implicit in these words is that productivity growth and competitiveness are already at good levels, and an increase in such levels will only serve Malta better in the future. And then McKenna has the cheek to say that this points to inadequate government action. My my, trying to pull a fast one now, are we?
4. “What also is being done to reduce our economy’s dependence on energy imports besides a few measly subsidies for solar water heating installations?”
‘Energy’ comprises much more than the “measly subsidies” in question. What’s being done? The study for a wind farm off is-Sikka tal-Bajda is the first answer. Secondly, the extension of the power station at Delimara will help Malta out in this regard. Thirdly, the promotion of other forms of alternative energy – although the government can do better in this regard – is also being done. Fourthly, there is the connection with the European power grid underway. What, on the other hand, is Labour proposing? That we’ll magically reduce the cost of our water and electricity bills, without stipulating where the money is going to come from. Prosit.
5. “Have we not also heard for donkey’s years about the pressing need to increase female participation and improve labour force skills?”
While female participation at work is still low, Malta has recorded the highest increase across the EU in the last 10 years – from 31% to 40%. This figure will only continue to increase the years to come, especially when you consider that the percentage of new graduates from the University of Malta is something along the lines of 60% females and 40% males. Just because people are now targeting jobs that are professions, and people are seeking to improve themselves in that manner, this does not mean that labour force skills are not being improved. They’re just being improved in the non-traditional sectors.
Seriously, Anne McKenna should go back and get her eyes checked because what she portrayed in that letter of hers is not the true situation that is found out there. It’s the situation that Labour want to make us believe is inherent in the country today. Oh, and the delicious irony of this all, something which further discredits the letter written, is that the author of this letter is someone who lives in Victoria Gardens, Ta’ L-Ibragg. Not exactly the poorest area of Malta!
Anne McKenna – yes, one to speak.
