Labour leader hopeful Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca yesterday condemned the government, saying that it was already failing to keep electoral promises.
Addressing a news conference outside the Social Policy Ministry in Valletta yesterday morning, Notary Coleiro-Preca strongly criticised the government’s decision to break off the Equity Sharing scheme, saying the PN had not mentioned anything about this in its electoral manifesto.
Neither had the President mentioned anything about it in the speech he gave to mark the opening of the new Parliament, she said.
“A couple of months ago the Church’s Justice and Faith Commission made a statement about the huge socio-economic consequences brought about by hiking property prices,” she said.
Moreover, in an official analysis, the Central Bank also confirmed the phenomenal inflation in property prices, and the PN government had come up with the Equity Sharing scheme for first-time property buyers following pressure from the MLP last October.
Ms Coleiro-Preca said the government’s decision to bring the scheme to a halt had to be seen in the context of the housing policy.
She described the government’s behaviour as “disgusting”, saying this was no way to treat hard-working people.
Going on to the speak about the letting of property, the Labour MP said the Housing Authority’s subsidy is inadequate, especially considering that prices were still high compared to salaries.
Speaking about the population census and criticising the fact that three years after it was carried out, it has not yet been published, Ms Coleiro-Preca said the census would definitely bring out the socio-economic difficulties faced by several couples and families due to the price of property and letting.
She said that should she be elected leader, the MLP would set up the urgently required national housing policy, which would be aimed at helping young couples and families in general.
During yesterday’s news conference, Ms Coleiro-Preca also spoke about the Energy Saving Rebate, which was provided to those purchasing energy-saving appliances.
She said the fact that the government had also broken off this scheme was another blow to young couples in particular.
She said this scheme was intended as an environment-friendly measure to reduce energy consumption.
Concluding, Ms Coleiro-Preca promised that should she be elected Labour leader, the MLP would appoint a group of experts, specialists and NGOs to draw up an appropriate energy plan.
In a counter-statement, the Social Policy Ministry said that the government is committed to issue more housing schemes to help people wanting to buy their own home.
The Housing Authority will be modifying the equity sharing scheme to ensure that this type of assistance will remain sustainable in the future and to reach as many young couples as possible.
Approved applications until 24 April total 242, of who 103 people have received E2.7 million, while the other 129 will be getting E3.8 million, the ministry said.