Opposition leader Joseph Muscat yesterday warned the general public not to believe everything that was promised in last week’s budget, as even though past budgets promised too much, little was done to rectify the country’s most pressing problems.

Speaking during yesterday’s parliamentary session, Dr Muscat said that Budget 2010 was not only irresponsible, but also left much to be desired.

“For over a year, the government has cited the financial recession as the reason behind the increase in the cost of living and water and electricity tariffs. However, the country’s economy is not made up of figures and statistics, but of families, pensioners, students and employees.

“Never have those in the labour market worked more than ever before. The economic crisis will come and go, but families struggling to make ends meet because of the choices made by this government will stay for a long time,” said Dr Muscat.

Dr Muscat added that the main reason why Budget 2010 is a failure is because it has failed to address the negligence that the manufacturing, education, health, environment and tourism sectors are experiencing at the moment.

“Two out of every 10 workers have an additional part-time job besides their full-time job. Tourism, the pillar of the Maltese economy, is in a dire mess. 40 per cent work in tourism related jobs and yet there is not even a ministry for tourism. To add insult to injury, not only has Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi merely appointed a parliamentary secretary (Mario de Marco) in charge of this sector, but has also burdened him by making him responsible for anything that goes on within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority”.

25 years of deficits

Dr Muscat also stated that the government’s attempts to blame everything on the recession are fooling no one.

“For the second year running since its current legislation, the government has failed to reduce income tax. The government knew beforehand of what was coming, yet still failed to steer the country in the right direction. Last year, the government claimed that the deficit for this year would not exceed e99 million.

“Now, experts are estimating that Malta’s deficit by the end of 2009 will be hovering around the e259 million mark. These same experts are predicting that next year’s deficit can increase by up to 10 times as much. If things remain as they are, the so-called Vision 2015 will bring with it a deficit of e200 million. The past 25 years of PN leadership have led to deficit after deficit after deficits”.

The Opposition Leader also added that government’s expenditure for the forthcoming year will be around 49 per cent, almost half of the economy.

“This means that the government itself will be using almost half of the funds allocated for more important and urgent matters. The PN added that European Union generated funds for this year will reach e80 million. This has since been proved a lie, because up to this day, Malta has only received e14 million from the EU for the past year”.

Dr Muscat then outlined a list of previous government proposals which have yet to take place, even though they had been in the pipeline for years, citing the renovation of the Saint Luke’s, Zammit Clapp and Karen Grech hospitals as prime examples.

“As opposition, we want internal investigations, answers and an eradication of bureaucracies and corruption as to why such proposed projects have failed to take place. New parks, trams, electronic identity cards, a national plan to combat cancer, a visitor attraction centre in Qawra, tax credits, and so much more were promised, but to no avail”.

Water and Electricity tariffs

Joseph Muscat also lamented the fact that prices of food in Malta and Gozo have risen so much recently, that Malta is now considered to have the highest cost of living among member states in the Eurozone.

“Gas prices have almost doubled over the past year. With the festive season around the corner, for the second consecutive year, the government has increased tariff prices but without saying by how much. This is not only irresponsible, but has led to great uncertainty.

“It is not fair to blame the price of oil as the reason for such increases. When the price of oil decreased last April, the water prices in Malta still remained at an all time high, at a time even when the Euro was much stronger than the dollar.

“During the budget presentation, the government explained why it would not be possible to lower the VAT rate on food for hotels and restaurants. If the government has taken the time to conduct such studies, is it that impossible to show everyone the studies which have led to the need to increase water and electricity tariffs once again?” questioned Dr Muscat .

The Opposition Leader concluded his speech by saying that finding alternative means of energy is a must, and that all funds allocated towards the Eco-Gozo project must be wisely spent.

“What the people out there are calling for is honesty which has been missing for quite some time now. We are tired of all the deceit and incompetence of this government. The document here in front of me explains the plans for a more Eco-Gozo, but is not even printed on recycled paper. Plans for a proposed offshore wind farm were in place in Budget 2009, but a while later not only did the process not start, but analysis was still being conducted as to whether it is possible for such construction to take place.

“The government has spent e7,414 on adverts and propaganda to say that works which will be carried out on the Delimara Power Station are environmentally friendly and of high standards. And yet, no one within the PN wants to shoulder the blame on the original sources of black dust which have plagued various localities for over a decade.

“Before the election, the Malta Shipyard workers were promised that there jobs were safe. Shortly after being re-elected, the majority of these workers were made redundant. e1.5 million has been allocated for the renovation of Fort Saint Angelo, when it is estimated that e20 million is needed to restore this jewel in Valletta’s crown. Waiting lists for a variety of operations increase year after year. How can the public have faith in such a government?” concluded Dr Muscat.