We have all been forced to hear the word “laptops”, and this has been reserved exclusively for our Prime Minister when opposition leader Alfred Sant speaks out, be it in Parliament or during his Sunday homily. My opinion is this: is the counter buzzword to the calculator a reference to when Dr Sant was Prime Minister in Labour’s 22-month stint in government?

Then, at budget time, we had a whole load of taxes pushed in. So long was the list that the index alone took up a page. Unfortunately that year, Labour had made some calculation mistakes of around Lm40 million in their estimates.

In today’s age, a laptop is necessary, as it is the modern working tool. It is there with you all the time and you are in contact all the time, too. Although the laptop reference is meant to be derogatory, it really confirms that in today’s world, Malta needs a Prime Minister who is on the ball, has a chairman-of-the-board attitude, with all communication possible, keeping him posted and never losing touch. It’s a tall order, maybe, for others.

That’s why the country needs Dr Lawrence Gonzi and, as he is a Nationalist, then the country needs the Nationalist Party to push us forward, not for the next two years, but beyond. In fact this budget does so. It is one in a series of budgets to come, one that shows that although the whole world – and that includes Malta, by the way – has suffered and will have to face the oil price crisis, we did not fare badly at all.

Our statement of affairs to the general public gives a good picture. It was a good performance in 2005, and it would have produced excellent results had it not been for this extraordinary item. 2006 should move Malta relatively forward, along with our European partners, through economic growth comparable to others, thus creating the calmness and the right climate for investment.

That is unless the General Workers Union takes to the streets in an attempt to save face. What irony: one hand of the privileged body says the manufacturing workers will lose their jobs as wages are too high, and the other hand of the same body wants more increases in the wage packet. Two opposites that will one day please the ears of one side, and the next day please the rest.

The extra 50 cents a week given to all, employed people or pensioners, in toto, was meant to be given in 2007. This government took a calculated social step by putting it on as from January 2006. The normal calculation of cost of living, always done by the same system valid to all governments and on a pre arranged formula, would have given the increase at Lm1.75 a week.

Some unions tend to change their operating manner, depending on who is in government.

Irresponsible action will only alienate investors, local and foreign, mind you. Even local investors would not like the sound of this music, played by the partner of the Malta Labour Party. This is a grave responsibility that can only affect jobs.

This week, I could not close my article without mentioning Victor Galea, is-sagristan, whose absence will be sorely felt in the Sliema camp. My condolences to his family.

Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP