Looking at the New Year with optimism

Although it is really hard to look forward to the New Year with optimism in times of international crisis and economic recession, we should be strong and believe in our potential. In times like these the role of politicians is crucial to transmitting confidence and hope to people.

This is the kind of politics which Dr Joseph Muscat is practicing.

This was evidenced in a speech he recently gave in Zurrieq. “If we believe in ourselves, we have the key to success. We should look ahead and work together, believing in our potential,” he said.



Priorities

An issue which is badly affecting people’s confidence is uncertainty. Addressing this situation should be a main priority especially at a local level. In the current situation in which people are spending less and the economy is slowing down, the government should be fighting uncertainty, not causing it. To start, the government should change the approach which it lately adopted – people are being left unaware of how certain political decisions will be affecting them and their families.

A case in point is the situation which second hand car importers are facing. These importers are still unable to calculate how much their cars will cost under the new tax regime because they are still waiting for essential information from the government. Apart from costing business to these car importers, consumers are also not getting their questions answered.



Keeping promises

This should be the government’s New Year’s resolution. A promise which the government should definitely keep is that of changing the National Euro Changeover Committee to a consumer-protection authority. I must recognise the fact that the government, after one year, decided to appoint the new consumer affairs council, something which we had repeatedly pointed out. Still we have no idea about the government’s plan for the authority which had to replace the NECC, which in our opinion is crucial in times when consumers are facing record rises in inflation. The reconstituted consumer affairs council should embark on an exercise which will eventually lead to a stronger consumer and competition division as soon as possible.



Generosity

Even though every one of us has his personal financial commitments, I would like to remind you all to be generous and give as much as you can to all the charity events happening on the Island.



New Year

The New Year offers a chance to rest, but also to reflect. During this time of year, one should reflect on the past 12 months and consider the possibility of greater achievement for the coming year.

Since this is my last article for this year I would like to wish to all the staff at The Malta Independent and all the readers a Happy New Year. I wish you all the very best!