TMID Editorial: A changing Malta

Change is not always easy.While, for example, keeping in touch with constantly evolving technological trends has become easier and easier as more people became tech savvy, there are other issues where change has been more slow moving, or perhaps has

By: independent.com.mt

Dec 27 2024
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TMID Editorial: A changing Mal

Change is not always easy.

While, for example, keeping in touch with constantly evolving technological trends has become easier and easier as more people became tech savvy, there are other issues where change has been more slow moving, or perhaps has not seen any movement at all. This is especially the case where a mentality shift is needed.

One can easily point to the traffic situation in the country and people's reluctance to give up using their private vehicles as an example. Now it is true that a more efficient public transport system is needed, but a shift in people's mentality would also be required, and that will not come about easily, especially given that the main government policy over the past years has been to widen roads.

But that is not to say that changing something that is taken to be the norm is not possible. For example, years ago people were more than happy just dumping all waste in a black bag. Then people would complain about having to separate their waste when regulations came into place, but as the years passed, people in Malta have gotten used to recycling and indeed have recognized the importance of doing our part. So much so that according to WasteServ CEO Richard Bilocca there has been a 31.5% decrease in the rate of black bags that ended up in landfills over the past decade. Comparing the present situation to the period between 2010 and 2013, Bilocca said the number of black bags WasteServ collected in 2024 was the lowest rate ever received from households in Malta. It's a big win for the environment.

We are also witnessing change in peoples' voting habits. In the past far more people would be considered 'die hards' than today. Nowadays, people are more flexible in who they are willing to vote for, and have no problem with not voting. This is also leading to the possibility of third parties possibly making headway in future elections. Such change also means that the two major parties must constantly work hard to win over voters, which means that they cannot simply rely on rhetoric as much as they used to. However, here something must be said about clientelism, a practice which is unfair on people who try and do things the right way, and an issue which needs to be talked about seriously, and tackled.

There are other areas where change is sorely needed, such as a change in planning policies aimed at ensuring that residents of an area are better protected, that green areas are better protected. There are developers who, for instance, care not about what the citizens in a locality think about what the developer is proposing, or how a mega project might negatively impact their way of life. Changes should be made to ensure local councils, environment and cultural heritage watchdogs are given a stronger say on what is and what is not permissible in terms of planning.

Then there are our values as a society. There is no doubt that the Maltese are generous and kind, that is seen every year especially through major fund raisers like L-Istrina, and others.

But one cannot help but feel that there is also too much greed and selfishness by some. For example, there are developers who try to build on land located outside the development zone, which would continue to slowly eat away at the green spaces we have left, or as said earlier, some developers just steamroll over residents in an area with massive projects. Some landlords took advantage of low-paid third country national workers, having them sleep 6 or more to a room - we all read the articles over recent years. Some also took advantage of third country national workers through precarious employment practices. Some people received social benefits which they were not entitled to, although many have now rectified that issue. There are also so many selfish drivers on the road, so many who speed or drive recklessly without realising that their actions could have lethal consequences. These are just some examples. Such mentalities are things society needs to work on changing.

Our actions do have consequences, and what we do impacts on others.