The first thing that Simon Busuttil should do as new spokesperson on good governance is to investigate his own leader, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning.
Muscat was asked what he thought about Adrian Delia’s shadow cabinet reshuffle during a political event in Marsaxlokk. The PM said of all the new roles, the best was the one given to the former Opposition Leader. “He has his work cut out for him,” he jibed.
Muscat was also asked about the “PN exponents who harm Malta’s reputation abroad.”
Replying, he said: “These people will find out that if you spit in the air it will land on your face. At the end of the day they are not harming Joseph Muscat, but the country.”
The PM said he believed that some top officials did not agree with this policy. He appealed to them to show “with facts” that they did not approve.
Turning to the threat of industrial action within the health sector, Muscat said he hoped that a solution would be found within the next 24 hours.
The government is set to meet with the Medical Association of Malta (MAM) on Monday over concerns the union has on the VGH-Steward concession transfer agreement. The doctors’ union has warned that it was willing to issue widespread directives unless agreement is reached.
The PM said he had full confidence in Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne.
“If this is an issue of clarification and understanding the deal then I am convinced we will get there.”
It seemed, he said, that MAM wanted to stop the transfer from VGH to Steward, and this was unacceptable for the government. “We are hopeful that if both sides attend the meeting with an open mind we will find a solution.”
Muscat insisted this morning that public private partnerships (PPPs) were vital for the health sector.
He said a massive investment would be carried out over the next two years. Were the government to rely solely on public funds, the same investment would have to be spread over 15 years he said.
“The sick need this investment as soon as possible. They cannot wait fifteen years. These agreements will give us a world class health sector.”
Muscat said old hospitals will be modernized ad reopened. The plan also guaranteed that salaries and conditions of health sector workers will remain untouched and that health services will remain free for Maltese citizens.
Muscat also announced that a world leader in medicinal cannabis products wanted to set up shop in Malta. This company, he said, intends to export products from Malta, particularly to other EU countries. “They are looking at us as the first country with the right structure in place,” adding that other market leaders could base their operations in Malta.
He also spoke about the announcement that a Greek company had agreed to buy Arrowpharm and all of its employees. The pharma company had announced it would lay off 60 workers. The PM also said the 130 workers that would be let off by Betsson would be given alternative employment.
The PM was asked about Air Malta. He said airline employees believed in the ongoing reorganization process. He said that while there would doubtlessly be some difficulties, Air Malta would grow and become the airline of the Mediterranean. “There are exciting times ahead.”
Muscat said 39,000 pensioners had this week received cheques amounting to €10 million. This was part of the pension increase scheme announced in the budget. “That is where the surplus is going,” he said, adding that a Labour government would continue to increase pensions to make up for 25 years of stagnation.
“We want to go back to the time when grandparents are able to save some money to give to their grandchildren.”
The PM also referred to the recent racial tension in Italy, following the brutal murder of a woman and a reprisal attack on migrants. He said while he could understand that such incidents angered people he would not accept comments along the lines of ‘we do not want foreigners among us.’
He pointed out that migrants are an important part of the workforce and the economy in general, performing jobs that no one else wanted or filling worker gaps. He said the laws have to be applied against all those who commit illegalities, not just migrants and foreigners.
He spoke about the integration policy, insisting that people should have an ‘open’ attitude.
The PM also referenced former PM Dom Mintoff, who had described Malta as a country of migrants.
“All of us know someone who left to live and work abroad. Mintoff had said that instead of being a country that sends it sons and daughters abroad, Malta should be the country that welcomes the sons and daughters of other countries. We are living Mintoff’s dream.”