Wishes for 2005

The Malta Independent of Sunday

I wish that:

1. Elections in Iraq and Palestine bring stability in these countries and open fresh prospects for tangible and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

2. Disasters like those experienced on Boxing Day in South East Asia will not happen again.

3. George Bush dedicates his next Presidency to conflict resolution so that he can be remembered as the President who in his first term shook conflicts out of their never never status and in his second term he worked for peace and stability.

4. Prime Minister Gonzi realises that his margin for error in solving the economic disaster he took over is very narrow; that any temptation to sweep problems under the carpet by opting for the line of least resistance in the negotiations for the public sector collective agreement is damagingly life threatening for the rest of the economy and for the external competitiveness of the country.

5. The Leader of the Opposition serves better his Party and his country by sacrificing his pride and accepts that his non electability is damaging the democratic process forcing on the country a leadership sclerosis and fossilisation of ideas.

6. The UHM and the other Unions that supported EU membership accept the discipline that such membership together with the commitment to join the Euro single currency brings, and desist from approaching negotiations with government as employer as if government can print or borrow money with impunity.

7. The social partners agree that a social contract cannot be reached unless reciprocal concessions are made and that Unions should be amenable to extension of working time without additional compensation provided a commitment is made by Employers, government included, to spend more money on training and re-training of employees.

8. Government realises the failure of its policies in adding further layers of taxation year in year out, and that solution of the macro economic and fiscal deficit problems can only be addressed with lasting effect if we regain international competitiveness and attract investment to stimulate growth.

9. Central Bank shakes off its lethargy and accepts its responsibility for keeping interest rates too low, accommodating government far more than is prudent in financing the fiscal deficit rather than seeking true solution for its reduction. Consequently the Central Bank has to accept responsibility for tolerating a level of inflation superior to that of our trading partners which in the context of a fixed exchange rate peg regime, has caused the country substantial loss of international competitiveness. It has to be accepted that re-alignment of the nominal exchange rate of the currency can and should form part of the restructuring package.

10. Unions should accept the short-sightedness of early retirement schemes in solving over-manning problems and that it is far more equitable and beneficial to apply any funds to train and re-train employees to enhance their employability rather than pay them for doing nothing.

11. In the country starts a serious and objective discussion of the social implications of persisting with our divorce-free (but separation-abundant) mentality or the introduction of divorce under stringent conditions.

12. The Church resolves its leadership issue so as to give new energy to an organisation that is losing its relevance in society.

13. Government accepts to conduct a thorough and independent investigation on why the Mater Dei Hospital is being completed so much out of time, out of budget and probably out of spec for maintaining a free health service.

14. Following a serious discussion on the sustainability of our pension system, health service and tertiary education financing system, decisions actually start being taken to avoid the otherwise unavoidabality of the collapse of these systems on which our social welfare programme depends.

15. Society fosters a culture change of looking at government as an enabler rather than a giver. Thus all able-bodied should look at government to provide free education and health to facilitate their fruitful participation in the economy rather than to pass an easy life outside it.

16. The Opposition regains the confidence of the majority of the electorate and brings in a leadership that fits its newly adopted policies regarding the EU. Experience shows that selling cola in lemonade bottles will not score with the consumer. Similarly selling pro-EU policies through anti-EU leadership will just not work forcing on us yet more fossilised PN administrations.

17. Public sector employees accept that they are paid to give the public a service which cannot be given under the current terms of their employment. On the other hand one has to make exceptions and give credit to public sector employees in health and law and order, who work in round the clock shifts under all weather conditions.

18. Fresh blood is given a chance wherever possible in society. Let the Azzopardi’s and Bondi’s make some space for new talent, let newspaper editors and media news editors give more space to their young journalist to show the worth of their university degree through objective reporting rather than mere dancing to their piper’s tune.

Why is it that for all my generally positive outlook to life, my level of confidence in seeing at least half of these wishes materialise, is less than fifty?