The European Commission has told the Maltese government that, according to EU rules it has to cut incentives for the industrial sector. The government has not only kept this report hidden but has also shown “gross incompetence” in accepting this instruction from the EC, PN Leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.

“This decision by the EC will negatively effect the economy and job creation, more so in Gozo. And the government has done nothing to safeguard the industry, our economy and jobs. Where was the government in the past few months? You have to be completely incompetent at negotiating to allow the EC to take this kind decision.”

Dr Busuttil called on the Prime Minister to shoulder the political responsibility.

Speaking in Victoria, Gozo, the PN Leader insisted that Maltese and Gozitans are justifiably disappointed with the Labour government for a myriad of reasons, but the biggest reason is the fact that, when faced with a choice between what is right and what is wrong, the government is always choosing that which is wrong. One such case is the one involving Cyrus Engerer, who was found guilty of distribuiting porn. The PM had welcomed him and called him a hero. Dr Busuttil said that this is a government of “anything goes.”

On the subject of the economy and unemployment, the PN Leader accused the PL of “taking the country backwards” in the space of just one year. “People expected something better from this government. They expected him to change the direction of our economy, like he promised. They surely did not expect unemployment to rise month after month.” He said students studied hard to get a good job but many are not finding work and those who do do not have job security. There are currently 5,8000 youths looking for a job, he said. “People are justyfiably disappointed because they were promised jobs.”

In Gozo alone, unemployment has increased by 6%. “The government’s response was to create the old “korpi,” he said, in reference to the Haddar and Sebbah Ghawdex scheme.

Even business people are disappointed with the Prime Minister because his promises are turning out to be false.

 

Busuttil stands by POYC ‘discrimination’ claims

Turning to health Dr Busuttil reiterated the discrimination claim, saying that only core PL people are receiving their free medicines. The elderly are concerned because they are having to spend their pension money on medicines they are supposed to be getting for free. “The government is discriminating between the most vulnerable people in this country. This is obscene. People are disgusted by this attitude.”

One again he saluted pharmacist Denise Ellul, who had the courage to stand up and speak out. “She was not afraid to speak up, even in the face of threats and insults by the government.”

The PN Leader said the government had given 500 “vindictive” transfers in the Police Force. “One police officer was transferred twice in the same day. Another was given four transfers in a week. Have they no shame? This discrimination is ruinging people’s careers."

PN 'proud' of its Gozo track record

Joseph Muscat boasted that the PL obtained a majority in Gozo. But this was another one of the PM’s lies because the PN obtained the majority of votes in Gozo, even if a small one. “What has this government done in Gozo in the past fourteen months? There is not even a single ongoing capital project apart from the ones started by the PN. The government is not spending any money on Gozo. On the other hand it is spending millions on a bigger cabinet, and on consultancies and jobs for friends of the PL.”

On the much talked about Gozo as a region report, Dr Busuttil said that the government had finally agreed to publish it after the Opposition’s insistence. He noted that the report proposed allocating €56 million in EU funds for Gozo. But in reality, the PN had allocated €112 million. “We have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to Gozo. On the other hand, we are proud of what we did here.”

Dr Busuttil said that the PN is going to the polls with a 36,000 vote disadvantage. "We tried to win the third seat in 2004 and 2009 but we did not manage. We will try again this time and we can do it if we remain united, put our message across and convince poeple that the PN is the only political party that people can depend on."