The economy has been growing steadily and the government continues to watch out for and empower  those who are not feeling it. The forthcoming budget will continue in that direction.

The diligent and successful administration of the country's finances prove that there is a continuity spirit of Labour's fundamental soul and endemic belief in social justice, equal opportunities and national pride. The fair society we have been nurturing since 2013 has seen us moving through building prosperity with a  purpose that will now lead us to foster a quality culture.

Throughout our time in office, we have been true to our word and delivered. The long list of  unprecedented results is testimony to our commitment.

 

Quality culture

We have reiterated time and time again that we work hard with no pretence of being perfect. The qualitative leap in securing a healthy economic basis is, however, a great incentive to fine-tune and add further quality to our commitment. The fair distribution of wealth as a common good has been our mission all along, and if we have not fully succeeded so far, the measures proposed for the budget 2019 will enhance our action.

The empowerment process has been a consistent thread in all previous budgets presented by Professor Scicluna and has resulted in a considerable and steady reduction in unemployment and in the number of people at risk of falling below the poverty line.

The rate of employment growth is in fact a main criterion when measuring the state of the economy. We have learned this week that, over and above an encouraging sequence of financial surpluses, last April we had a 6.5 per cent increase in full-time employment over the same period last year, reaching an all-time high  of 203,633 gainfully occupied people.

 At a glance, figures can be impressive, but a closer look brings to the fore the quality that is already inherent in the government's employment policies and results. Full-time employment in the private sector rose by 10,883 to 154,902, while employment in the public sector increased by 1,469 to 46,884. During  the same period, the number of full-time, self-employed people rose by 942 compared to April 2017.

 Another quality leap shows that the number of males in full-time employment rose by 5.2 per cent, and the number of females by 8.7 per cent over 2017 levels - demonstrating that more women are joining the labour market.

 

The President's wise words

The speech delivered this week by H.E. President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at the meeting of non-executive EU Presidents in Latvia, reflected the strong belief of most people in Malta and Gozo - at this particular  time in our political history.

Quoting her timely warning, that "free speech is not a free-for-all; free speech is the manifestation of sharing diverse views in a respectful way", I could not agree more with Her Excellency, who said that "with the call for freedom of speech, we are sometimes fed fake news and misinformation. Social media should stand for a  stronger democracy and not to foment hatred."

 The President's speech should also serve as a cautionary appeal to those politicians who have a habit of making irresponsible statements and false accusations - more so after what the Egrant Magisterial Report has uncovered about the wildest political lie ever. Malta and Gozo are populated by kind-hearted people and they  cannot afford individuals or groups that sow divisiveness and hatred.

 

Work around Gozo

A look at work currently ongoing in Gozo shows that tomorrow we will start the long-overdue rebuilding of the important arterial road that leads from Nadur to Mġarr harbour. This project includes reconstruction of the road itself, added safety systems to reduce the risk of accidents and facilities for the  necessary services below the road's surface.

 This investment is one of several infrastructural projects currently underway in Gozo and a number of others already completed, with more roadworks beginning in the coming weeks. The Gozo Ministry is giving  importance to the Nadur to Mġarr road , among others, because it has been in a very bad state of repair for several years.

 The first phase of work is to consolidate the road base and the supporting walls, followed by work on the gutters for necessary services before giving it a new surface. Nadur Mayor Edward Said rightly welcomed the news and publicly thanked the Gozo Ministry for this main artery to finally receive the attention it deserves, given that the town's Local Council has, for many years, been requesting such action to address the danger it  posed to commuters.

 I can assure Mr Said and all Gozitans that, under my watch, work will be carried out wherever necessary with, plans already drawn up for similar projects during the coming year.

 

Great memories

The United Nations celebrations of the International Day of Sign Languages brought great memories to me of the years I served the disability sector up until last year. It was Wednesday ,16 March 2016 when the House of Representatives signalled a very important landmark for the Deaf community. The formal approval of Bill Number 88/2016, which I had moved, meant the official recognition by Parliament of the Maltese Sign  Language as a national language.

 It will always be for me personally a very important achievement in my political career. Long before Labour's historic election victory in 2013, and my appointment as Parliamentary Secretary, I had had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Deaf community, to whom I had promised my full support. It was therefore my privilege, two years ago, to achieve the full recognition of a right to which these people had been aspiring for many years.

 A year-and-a-half later, the 48th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly approved the International Day of Sign Languages and officially adopted 23 November as this International Day at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly last Friday. Good deeds for a fair society are necessarily a natural continuum and I was pleased to see my successor and colleague Tony Agius Decelis proudly representing our country at the UN event this week. Indeed, continuity is our mark, and quality our commitment !

 

Our last farewell

Grief touched my family this week with the passing away of my grandma, Maria Antonia, after 93 long years of setting for us the best examples of a dedicated mother and a loved grandma and great-grandmother. She was, for me, an inspiring figure throughout my childhood and later as a mother myself and along my years in politics. Her simple but genuine advice and her caring eyes will continue to guide me for the rest of my life. On behalf of my family, I thank all the staff at Gozo General Hospital and those who attended our last farewell yesterday at  the Xewkija rotunda or who showed their sympathy in any other way. May she rest in peace.