Young people attending the meeting said that they had friends who had not found employment, despite years of studies. Two participants said that they had recently lost their job and had only found part-time employment, which meant a drastic reduction in their income.

Other young people present commented on the price of property, saying it was becoming almost impossible for them to buy their own home. Those present also stressed the need for better protection of the environment.

In his address, Dr Sant said that Malta’s competitiveness was on the decline and no new investment was being made. This was bringing about a social crisis because unemployment was threatening the standard of living.

He said the fact that property prices were continuously on the rise might lead to a fall in the price of renting property. The concern of young people for the environment meant that today’s younger generations realised that its safeguarding was linked to a better quality of life.

The youths were also addressed by Dr Justyne Caruana, who said that some 600 people were registering for work in Gozo, 54 per cent of them under the age of 30.