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2 maltatoday EXECUTIVE EDITOR Matthew Vella MANAGING EDITOR Saviour Balzan Letters to the Editor, MaltaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt Letters must be concise, no pen names accepted, include full name and address maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2020 Malta has managed the crisis well… but at a cost Editorial THERE can be no doubt that Malta has so far weath- ered the COVID-19 crisis admirably: not just from a public health perspective – where Malta has won international accolades for its successful handling of the local epidemic – but also on the economic front. An analysis carried out by Columbia University in fact reveals that Malta's fiscal response to the eco- nomic disruption caused by the coronavirus has been the most generous globally. With Malta's spending equating to 22.1% of its GDP, the country tops the list, just ahead of Japan, in the world rankings. This is largely thanks to various support measures introduced by government to cushion the impact of COVID-19, most notably by paying a wage supple- ment of €800 per month per employee for companies that had to close as part of restrictions introduced by health authorities. These are all measures which cost the government money, at a time when its own revenue is set to de- crease as the economy inevitably contracts. As such, it displays a willingness to spend taxpayers' money to address socio-economic problems, even in times of economic adversity. This approach appears to have stood Malta in good stead in this crisis; even if, ironically, such largesse would normally be considered 'State Aid', and there- fore 'illegal' by the ordinary European rules of engage- ment. It only became legally possible in view of the EU's decision to suspend its usual State Aid regulations, as a result of the global health emergency. As such, Malta's success in countering the eco- nomic effects of the pandemic – on top of its similar success on the health front, which is also due to heavy investment in the social services - also illustrates that the countries which invest in their own economies, are the ones that are likeliest to emerge the least scathed. At a time when many people are questioning when (or whether) things will return to 'normal' – and, more specifically, what this 'new normal' is likely to be - this offers food for thought. Will the 'new nor- mal' retain the same old practices – indeed, the same economic model – that had to be suspended at the first sign of a crisis? If so, then the broader lessons from this pandemic would not have been learnt after all. Unfortunately, however, there are other aspects to Malta's COVID-19 response that are harder to justify. The first is the government's decision to close ports and harbours to rescued migrants, on the basis that Malta can no longer be considered a 'safe port of call'. There is certainly some truth to the argument that these are extraordinary times; and therefore call for extraordinary measures. Likewise, it is undeniable that intransigence on the part of our fellow EU member states – coupled with the failure of the Commission to ever negotiate a permanent agreement – has left Malta with no other option but to 'play hardball'. Nonetheless, the government now runs a serious risk of being perceived as indirectly aiding and abet- ting a culture of prejudice and hostility towards for- eigners: not just the migrants themselves; but also 'the foreigner' in general… by shifting the blame for the present migration crisis onto the EU, while pandering to the fears of an increasingly xenophobic public. Having said that, Malta's decision to veto the EU's Operation Irini - a naval mission launched to enforce the arms embargo to Libya, in a bid to stifle warring parties in the North African country – may well mark a new and important chapter in this thorny issue. Malta's decision to curry favour with Turkey, in order to put pressure on Libya's recognised GNA government to stop human traffickers, stands in stark contrast with the EU's policy of (indirectly) aiding the rebel forces led by General Hatfar. By defying the common European position in this matter, Malta is clearly rattling the EU's cage. This is, again, a questionable position to take; but it is also understandable in view of years of EU inaction. It's been ages since Malta has unsettled the powers that be in Europe; but sadly, that seems to be the only way to get member states acting on finding common solutions on migration. Lastly, questions could be raised about Prime Min- ister Joseph Muscat's return to an intimate part of the government's post-COVID recovery team. Defenders of this move will no doubt point to- wards Muscat's proven track-record as an economic administrator; nonetheless, it also shows that Robert Abela's continuity from the past administration also makes light of the chaos in which Muscat was forced to resign. Ultimately, this pandemic is being used to plaster over many cracks in the edifice of government; not just to normalise the closure of ports, and to deny mi- grants the ability to claim their right to international protection… but also to normalise Muscat's disgrace- ful exit, and using his 'feel-good' factor, in all things economic, to placate the fidgety business community. So while credit remains due to government for its management of the crisis so far… the crisis itself is far from over. 9 May 2010 The picture of poor health: Malta's child obesity epidemic THERE'S a price tag on child obesity and the health ministry claims it hovers at around €18 mil- lion every year. Other experts disagree – in 2008 the Grech and Farrugia found 25% of 3,461 chil- dren aged five to six were overweight and obese, and predicted health costs related to obesity will be as much as €70 million a year. That's almost a new parliament. There is yet no complete set of data on child obesity in Malta, although it has been acknowl- edged that the nation faces an "alarming" public health problem. Suffice it to say that in 2008, the WHO's survey on health behaviour in school-aged children carried out in 2006 showed a deteriorat- ing situation, listing Malta and the USA with the highest overall percentages of children who are obese: namely 25% and 30% of girls and boys re- spectively aged 11; 31% of both girls and boys aged 13; and 28% and 32% of girls and boys of 15. This state of affairs seems to have been only confirmed, yet again, by the National Audit Office. This time pursuing investigations unrelated to power stations, its report into physical education lessons in state primary schools offered a clue into the worrying problem of child obesity. They are not even getting the basic time required for PE. According to the report, fewer lessons are being held than the four, 30-minute weekly sessions recommended by the National Minimum Curric- ulum in primary schools. That's also because the schools do not have adequate playgrounds, and because primary school teachers do not follow up on the weekly lessons given by peripatetic PE teachers. Maltese children are now getting less exercise than ever before, and parents are even resorting to taking their children to special kids' gyms to lose the fat and change their diets. Pippo Psaila is one of the torchbearers of Mal- tese sport, and his career even reflects his own personal indefatigability: national football team coach, director of sport for the national Olympic committee, businessman and political candidate – it's a remarkable CV. So it's no surprise when he says that the Maltese educational system, with its emphasis on tradi- tional subjects, is crowding out physical education and sports. "The system is highly taxing for PE and sport practice in general in view of curriculum content, the system of examination." ... Quote of the Week "We can't doubt Muscat's attributes... like other economists, one keep giving their contribution..." Economy minister Silvio Schembri on Joseph Muscat's role in the COVID recovery team MaltaToday 10 years ago