Ideally, politicians should focus on running the country effectively and making decisions that benefit their constituents. However, the reality is that they also need to garner votes to be elected and remain in office. This often leads to prioritizing short-term popularity over long-term policy goals. Balancing governance and electoral strategy is a key challenge for many politicians.
As we approach the next elections, there are several critical issues I would like the parties to address:
- Reducing Government Workforce: Knowing that the country needs more people in the private sector and that the government has excess personnel, isn’t it logical for the government to consider reducing its workforce? Doing so could lower civil service wage costs, increase tax and National Insurance revenues from private employers, and reduce the need for importing foreign workers.
- Streamlining Ministries: Will the new government dramatically reduce the number of ministries and the staff employed within each? Looking at Germany, which has a smaller cabinet despite being a larger country, we can see that ministries can concentrate more on policy-making, allowing civil servants—properly equipped and qualified—to handle administration, rather than relying solely on government-appointed staff.
- Merit-based Civil Service Appointments: Can we return to a system where civil service positions are filled through public calls and examinations? Historically, roles like clerk typists and administrative officers required candidates to have degrees. Reviving such standards could enhance the professionalism and accountability of the civil service.
- Adapting Education for the Future: With the advent of AI, it’s crucial for future governments to prioritize the development of qualified STEM professionals. Can institutions like MCAST reconsider their course offerings, perhaps limiting programs in areas like hairdressing and nail technology, while launching campaigns to attract more students into IT and engineering fields? Similarly, can universities focus on producing more qualified engineers and advanced degrees in engineering and IT, which are essential for a nation increasingly reliant on AI?
These are vital points to consider as we head into the elections, and I hope they spark meaningful discussions among candidates and parties alike.
Founder at Velvet Marketing | Strategic Growth Through Innovative Marketing
4 个月Malta should follow the Singapore model, where technocrats and experts, even from foreign countries run Ministries and the Political decisions are still taken but locals. We have too many politicians who are of the worst form, ego-centric although they have limited skills or nothing to offer. Worse still, they cannot even single out an achievement in life other than a degree. Another issue is the question of policy, where we publish strategies for 10-20 years but never abide by them due to a lack of a permanent vision.