At his first mass meeting since taking office six months ago, Dr Gonzi told the relatively small crowd which gathered on the Granaries in Floriana that the government’s efforts to renew the country and its practices were already bearing fruit and promised that the government will continue with its plans to improve the country.

Dr Gonzi referred, almost entirely, to the 10 priorities he had mentioned soon after taking office in March. He mentioned these priorities and the short and medium-term goals which he wanted the government and the country to reach.

He also reiterated his invitation to the Malta Labour Party for its participation in the issues which matter most to the country and which do not necessarily have to be given a political tinge.

“In order to reach our aims, we need everyone’s cooperation. Everyone has to work together because this is everyone’s country.

“This is not a time in which one party should aim to gain political advantage over another. Who does this will be selfish. We have to work together, hand-in-hand, to reach one aim: making Malta better and more competitive and a better place where the Maltese can live,” he said.

Dr Gonzi said the country was registering improvement in many sectors.

He mentioned, among others, the increase in investment, especially in the manufacturing industry, the increase in tourism figures, the increase in the number of factories setting up shop in Malta and the decrease in the country’s deficit.

He said these were the positive results being obtained ever since the country started its stride towards a better future as a European Union member state.

Dr Gonzi said the restructuring exercise at important government and parastatal companies such as Air Malta, the Public Broadcasting Services and Gozo Channel were already bearing fruit.

Dr Gonzi said improving the country’s educational system would remain one of his government’s main goals, along with improvements in the Health and Pensions sector.

He said employment was also one of his government’s main goals as well as convincing small- and medium-sized enterprises and investors that Malta has potential and that people who invest their money in Malta would not regret it.

The PN leader also reiterated his promise that his government will clamp down on abuses, adding that “it will be strong with the strong”. He said this project was one in which everyone should participate. “If you see something wrong say so. Do not be happy with anything less than the best because this is what you deserve,” he said.

In his one-hour speech, Dr Gonzi also mentioned the main items on which the government will be working in the coming days and weeks.

He mentioned, among others, the conclusion of the agreement with the bus drivers for a reform in the public transport system, the continuation of the discussions on a reform to the pension system, the continuation of the Mater Dei hospital while keeping an eye on what is being spent and the continuation of the Mgarr and Cirkewwa passenger terminals.

He also said that the government will soon publish a white paper on the port reform as well as start

discussions with the unions on

a new collective agreement for

government employees.

Earlier in his speech Dr Gonzi praised former leaders Gorg Borg Olivier and Eddie Fenech Adami for using their determination to give Malta what it deserved: Independence 40 years ago and EU membership on 1 May this year.