In recent years, a troubling trend has emerged in Malta: the government only seems to act when a complaint goes viral on social media. It begs the question—are we being governed by the number of Facebook likes and Instagram shares?
Every day, citizens raise concerns about the government's failures on social media, from crumbling infrastructure to inadequate public services. And almost every time, the government’s response is a hastily drafted statement announcing a new regulation or claiming that the issue is being addressed. But where is proactive governance? Where is the leadership?
Isn't it the government's job to anticipate problems and resolve them before they become crises? Aren't our taxes being spent on highly paid CEOs and "Persons of Trust" who are supposed to ensure that our public services function smoothly? What are these people doing if the country seems to be perpetually on the brink of one disaster after another?
Consider the state of our waste management system, a "one size fits all" approach that has proven to be a failure. Or the fact that a single drop of rain is enough to flood our roads, leading to accidents and chaos. Workers are being exploited in overcrowded rental spaces, yet the government does nothing.
Our identity cards are being duplicated and sold, our hospitals are being handed over to foreign interests, and the youth are fleeing the island in droves, fed up with a system that seems incapable of meeting their needs. We have patients left to die in an overwhelmed emergency ward, and our drainage system is so inadequate that it overflows into the sea, ruining our precious few beaches. And what does the government do? It waits for the public outcry on Facebook before lifting a finger.
Take the Balluta Bay situation, the MCAST students’ debacle, the garbage pile-ups, or the migration issues. The pattern is clear: the government reacts, it doesn't lead. It follows the public's cues, only taking action when the outrage hits a boiling point online.
Even Joseph Muscat, a disgraced former Prime Minister, got it right when he warned Robert Abela and his administration not to base decisions on social media popularity. Abela’s administration needs to focus on governing—on solving problems before they escalate to the point where a viral post becomes the only way to get their attention.
Social media is undoubtedly a powerful tool for holding the government accountable, and it has given citizens a platform to voice their concerns in real-time. But this should complement the government’s ongoing work, not replace it. The only work being done shouldn’t be a reaction to Facebook posts.
When Edward Zammit Lewis remarked that some of his government colleagues are “children playing dress-up” (“tfal u pozi”), he wasn’t far off. Too often, what we see are photo ops with little substance behind them. A picture might be worth a thousand words, but it’s worthless if it’s just a band-aid on a festering wound.
The government should be taking pictures of solutions, not problems. It’s high time our leaders stop chasing likes and start earning them by doing their jobs.
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