While walking down the street on 8 March 2008, a businessman who voted GonziPN that same morning is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St Peter at the entrance.
“Welcome to Heaven,” says St Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a Maltese businessman around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”
“No problem, just let me in,” says the Maltese businessman.
“Well, I’d like to but I have orders from higher up. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”
“Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven,” says the Maltese businessman.
“I’m sorry but we have our rules.”
And with that, St Peter escorts the GonziPN voter to the lift and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians he had voted for, everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, hug him, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster and caviar. Also present is the Devil (a GonziPN party official, too), who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes.
They are having such a good time that, before he realises it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the lift rises. The lift goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St Peter is waiting for him.
“Now it’s time to visit Heaven.”
So 24 hours pass with the Maltese businessman joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St Peter returns.
“Well then, you’ve spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity.”
He reflects for a minute, then the Maltese businessman answers: “Well, I would never have thought it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell.”
So St Peter escorts him to the lift and he goes down, down, down to Hell. Now the doors of the lift open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and rubbish. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the rubbish and putting it in black bags. The Devil comes over to the Maltese businessman and lays an arm on his neck.
“I don’t understand,” stammers the Maltese businessman. “Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is a wasteland full of rubbish and my friends look miserable.”
The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, “Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!”
Breaking promises
Last Sunday Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, asked whether GonziPN will keep its electoral promise to cut income tax in its budget for 2009, told The Sunday Times: “People do not judge us just in the weeks of the electoral campaign. What we’re facing today was not what we were facing in the electoral campaign, not even the months before… I must ensure that we don’t wreak havoc in public finances just for the sake of keeping promises.”
But just before the March election in its electoral manifesto GonziPN was promising “a package of policies to stimulate more economic growth, to provide incentives for business, to reward hard working people.”
GonziPN was already very aware of the economic turmoil going on in the world: “The world today is passing through very uncertain economic times. The economic crisis hitting the United States at present is hitting the rest of the world as well and so will also hit us. The international financial institutions have called on governments to take fiscal measures to face this challenge. There is also the challenge of rising oil and food prices. That is why the country needs a government that can offer solutions and overcome these challenges. That is why the PN is offering a package of policies not only to maintain the financial and economic health of the country but also to improve it and prepare ourselves for the high waves when they strike.”
Eight months have passed since GonziPN was returned to power. Where is the “package of policies to stimulate more economic growth, to provide incentives for business, to reward hard working people”? Are the new rates for water and electricity for businesses, factories, hotels and families part of this “package of policies”, promised in GonziPN’s electoral manifesto just eight months ago?