This Maundy Thursday, local Editors appear to be in reflective mood and bring out a number of positive messages to accompany their readers over Easter weekend.
The Times’ Editorial takes the wider Government to task for abusing of the current pandemic to take two decisions which show little social conscience – that of refusing to carry out any further rescues at sea as well the decision by Identity Malta to send back home those non-EU children whose parents are in the process of challenging a decision to deport them on the grounds of their parents’ income. The latter decision was eventually withdrawn but the Editor expresses hope that neither the government nor one of its agencies would use the coronavirus as an excuse to solve its difficult problems and abandon the most vulnerable members of society.
The Independent draws inspiration from the current time of Lent and calls on its readers, whether Christian or not to make an extra sacrifice to respect and be patient with each other in these difficult times. By making the necessary sacrifices, we too can come out of this, one day, as a better community into a new life.
The Business Today refers to the current situation at Air Malta, with the mass redundancies announced by the airline over the past 24 hours described as a strong response to the unions’ inability to compromise at a time of crisis. Whether these redundancies will be enough to help the airline survive the crisis still has to be seen but the company evidently had no other choice. The Editor argues that the current crisis should be used as an opportunity to start afresh with an airline that runs a lean operation with work conditions that respect employees but which also make sense in an evolved airline industry.
The Business Weekly takes to task those who contributed to an escalation in positive cases, ranging from politicians taking long to make decisions as well as to individuals who refused to accept social distancing restrictions. Those who went to walks or meetings with people outside their households, have contributed in no small manner.
L-Orizzont takes a wider political-ideological approach to the current crisis, arguing that the pandemic has highlighted the failures of the neo-liberal system. These include the complete liberalisation of markets, the privatisation of the health care sector and the focus on multinational companies rather than the individual rights of the workers.
In a way, In-Nazzjon also takes an ideological approach, focusing on the need to return to traditional Christian values – including solidarity, the common good and the value of life, which are being re-discovered as we navigate through the current pandemic.
