While in other countries governments were making good for problems in the economy which were being reflected on families, the Nationalist Party in Malta was doing the opposite, said Labour Party Leader, Joseph Muscat during a political activity in Qrendi yesterday morning.

Referring to the financial crisis which, “no one had predicted,” that had hit larger and more liberal economies, Dr Muscat said that the Maltese government was “creating a crisis itself.”

He pointed out that the government’s pre-budget document published in the past weeks, said nothing of water and electricity rates.

The government has now said that that the new tariffs would pose an increase of between e1.5 and e5 on every family’s water and electricity bills, Dr Muscat said. He explained that this increase would already exert pressure on a number of families, moreover, “the truth is that the figures were not correct and the burden will be more than what the government is saying,” Dr Muscat said.

He also urged the government to “be courageous” and correct its figures otherwise the Labour Party was going to do so, adding that the party was going to come up with its strategy for the energy sector.

Dr Muscat spoke on the initiative of MLP spokesperson for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Leo Brincat who presented the Private Members Bill regarding climate change in Parliament. Although our country was not legally bound to take certain measures regarding climate change due to its size and development rate, Dr Muscat said, its political and moral duty was to act and set example.

Thus, Labour Party leader called for the government to support this bill and vote in favour of it. This was not a political issue but an issue of our country having environmental legislation which binds and conserves the environment factually, Dr Muscat added. Meanwhile, the Labour Party promised to support the government where needs be in national interest.

With reference to the local financial situation, the Labour Party leader said that he approved of Finance Minister Tonio Fenech’s statement which, although not in a timely manner, set people’s minds at rest.

The Labour Party in opposition shared the same view and did not want to give space for doubt in local banks, he continued.

Speaking on his visit to Libya during the past week, Dr Muscat said that the fact that political authorities of a country agreed to sign an agreement with the MLP regarding Mediterranean politics and energy, two very important fields, was very positive, Dr Muscat said.

The Labour Party wanted to create a text of understanding with a neighbouring country as well as one of the biggest oil producing countries, with the aim of having a working basis when the party was elected in government. If an agreement was signed before the next general election, Dr Muscat said that the party had no reason against letting the government make use of this for the benefit of the people.

The MLP delegation in Libya spoke in national interest even regarding a visit which the Prime Minister should be making to the country, Dr Muscat said.

Speaking on the occasion of the 88th anniversary which the party was celebrating, Dr Muscat said that “the time when people were afraid to show that they supported the Labour Party has now ended.”

On the contrary, those who believed in the party and supported it should “feel proud for doing so.”

He added that nothing and no one would make him feel ashamed of the Socio-Democratic principles which the party held.

During the next week, the party would be finding its roots when back in 1920 a group of persons coming from different walks of life felt the need for the country to have a movement which placed workers’ needs at its topmost priority.

The party had a history by which women’s right to vote was recognised, as was the need for a retirement pension, maternity leave and the minimum wage, among other break-throughs, Dr Muscat said.

“The principle of social justice which guided the Labour Party during the past 88 years, should keep guiding it in the future,” he went on to say.

Dr Muscat added that the MLP wanted to be the party of the day and the future by speaking on what was going on well and how things could be improved. It was also not going to let the government fall over its mistakes because otherwise, the whole country would suffer.

On Wednesday, the Labour Party would be opening an exhibition on the party’s history at its Headquarters in Hamrun while a special evening at the same headquarters was to be held on Saturday.