Ever since we as Maltese and Gozitans took over our own administrations our islands have moved forward in leaps and bounds, bettering most other nations with enhanced financial and industrial capabilities. This is becoming clearer every year in our budget presentations.

The majority agree with this, some others do not. That is why we practice the values of free speech and liberty in media communications and through parliamentary representatives.

But nobody can argue that our way of life in our islands has bettered other much richer and industrial nations. For example take budgets in other countries introducing taxes after taxes on food, social issues, energy, water and multiple other items.

In our islands we have not had any additional taxes during these last years as our economy is exceeding predictions of growth each and every year, bettering much larger and industrial countries around the world.

Social Services

Free hospitalisation, medicine, universities, schools, kindergartens, free meals, bonuses, free transport to and from schools, health needs and facilities for girls and boys, new schools, improved wages, subsidies for rents, which rents have gone haywire since the Hague Court Judgement on Malta’s rents where individual greed has bypassed all norms and decencies.

Allowances and additional rises in cost of living, for one and all. Previous pensions injustice are slowly being addressed. Help for handicapped people, free medicine from several pharmacies in our towns and villages, care workers mostly financed and provided in one’s own home.

Incentives for senior citizens if they choose to remain at home. Also lately, assistance by a farmer’s help in one’s home garden was introduced for senior citizens.

I.V.F. was also introduced free of charge for women who want to start a family, with the government carrying the financial burden.

A new M.R.I. was recently introduced in the Gozo General Hospital, this machine will save hundreds of Gozitans travelling to Mater Dei Hospital at unearthly hours with all the hardship that this created.

Pensions inequalities are being adjusted for former workers transferred to government departments and ex-servicemen. A scheme that is costing millions but will be fair for the individuals concerned.

Also citizens like myself born prior to 1962 are having their pension slowly adjusted to equal those born after 1962. This is a just and rightful step for the many pensioners born before 1962.

Excellent Budget

For the majority of Citizens this was a very positive and forward looking budget from a progressive government and administration.

Other Issues Left Out

There are also other aspects which I for one think should not have been left out, such as:

1. Cowboy builders who don’t pay any heed to the rules but adapt their own as they see fit.

2. Building without a permit and later in almost all cases these will be sanctioned.

3. It appears that the authorities involved are in cohabitation with these cowboys.

4. Building taking place in Outside Development Zones.

5. Building on other people’s properties or where there is a conflict of properties.

6. Restaurants and bars taking over the pavements, promenades, seaside areas, beaches and squares illegally and it appears that there is no enforcement to right and take action against these steadily increasing blatant abuses. This is destroying the quality of life for the majority of our citizens.

If these issues are looked after by the authorities and effective action is taken, nobody will be able to take over from the present administration which has so many positive aspects as alluded to in this article.

Lino DeBono,

Xewkija,

Gozo.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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