Over the long weekend and Easter holidays, many could have overlooked a disturbing noise from the Labour camp, stating veiled comments on the future of foreign investment into Malta.
It is disturbing because it seems that the opposition, which, let us not forget is aspiring to govern the country, is criticising and probably trying to create obstacles to anybody who wants to invest into our shores. They shed crocodile tears and weep for the people out of a job, with parliamentary speeches that tell us of local doom and gloom. By stark contrast, as soon as something good comes along, then, you have the same people trying their mighty best to shove off this interest.
No wonder the government and Minister Austin Gatt kept everything under his wings until the heads of agreement was signed up with the SmartCity investors.
At the time of writing this article, the Labour camp did not answer the ministerial statement, stating that Labour got it all wrong. Hopefully they do, and put everybody’s mind at rest.
These new job opportunities are what this government has reaped by sowing confidence in the business world. It is an opportunity that Maltese youngsters, and maybe older ones, can grasp. I hear of jobs being offered with foreign companies, but still being based in Malta. I hear that Malta is on the verge of a boom with regard to financial services.
These two segments offer out good quality jobs for our youth, gives them a secure future, and encourages them to continue their studies.
Now, you would connect that with the initiatives the government announced via its Education Minister for students who take up certain courses at the university. Millions of liri are being invested in higher education, preparing for the present and not too distant future. It is a chain of high quality thoughts, brought together as in a good orchestra, with a good working atmosphere and with peaceful surroundings.
Another door has also been recently opened with the recent announcement of first time initiatives on tourism. There were the pros and the cons, as there are in every sector. I see that the principle behind this is of utmost importance. One can build on and around these points by converging on all interested parties and players in the industry, foreign and local, to partake in this exercise.
All can be winners, and we can meet everybody’s needs and aspirations.
No one should have a stronger or higher pitched voice. We can all work to get our tourist arrivals figures drastically higher. Our growth is constant, and we now need to apply the gas pedal – hence these initiatives.
Tourism can be what a SmartCity will be. Instead of high mind jobs, tourism can create jobs on the lower end of our job market. People are given good minds, others good hands, others a sixth sense. The equation can be complete if, and when, all these components are put together, and the ball starts rolling, fast.
This is the Nationalist government. Go and spoil it all by voting in another party, who has yet to set a vision for this island, let alone get going. The last time it tried, with the same leader and exponents, it could not make it past the two-year barrier. Well, most people will eventually say, that they will rather stay on this train, endure a bump or two, and arrive at the destination. The alternative is another train that runs out of steam.
Robert Arrigo is a Nationalist MP