The Labour Party is ready to take over the running of the country to bring about much needed change based on the three values of work, protection and dignity, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.
Speaking in Qormi, Dr Sant again hit out on the issues of the moment, which are the privatisation of Maltacom, the new development zones, the uproar in Parliament and the energy surcharge.
He said that the Labour Party is currently engaged in dialogue with all the relevant social groups to discuss its plans for health, education, industry and Gozo. He said that business was crying out for new laws, yet the government remained immobile and without initiative.
Speaking about the new hospital project, the Labour leader said that no plan was yet in place regarding the transfer from St Luke’s to Mater Dei. Capital expenditure in respect of the hospital, he said, was expected to reach Lm250 million, with running costs expected to top Lm1.8 million a week – which he said was a staggering amount.
Dr Sant said that Malta was rock bottom of the Research and Development Index for EU countries, adding that the country needs a strong impetus in this sector. He said that Gozo was in a shambles, with all the social bodies complaining about the stagnant situation.
The Labour leader said that the party would remain committed to creating work and reducing the cost of living. He said that the government had known that oil prices would be going up in 2006 as from September 2005 but had done absolutely nothing about it, adding that a recent study showed that Malta was the hardest hit EU country as regards the oil price crisis.
Dr Sant said the government’s lack of work on introducing energy-saving measures had led to families and businesses being crippled by huge costs and astronomical bills. Several small businesses were considering closing, with an increase in the number of long-term unemployed and factories, hotels and other large establishments losing competitiveness.
The Labour leader said that the government was arrogant – which had been made clear in the announcement of the recent new development zones, which he again described as a “sack of corruption”.
He referred to the proposed development of agricultural land in the Tal Papa area of Birzebbuga, the St Anne Square controversy where, he said, incorrect information had been submitted by the developer, and the Pender Place issue where he said excavations were about to begin before any development permit had been granted.
Dr Sant also spoke about the new amendments to the Criminal Code, which mean that a magistrate has to ask the permission of the Chief Justice to open an inquiry, and the ongoing controversy regarding Minister Austin Gatt’s statements in parliament.
The discussion was also addressed by Labour deputy leader for Party Affairs Charles Mangion, who said that the government’s boast of a 3.1 per cent growth figure for the economy was belied by the GRTU’s business perception survey. He said that, at 40 per cent, the rate of taxation was among the highest in Europe, and added that the government had insisted on selling public assets such as Mid Med Bank, Maltapost and Maltacom on the cheap.
Labour spokesman on IT Leo Brincat said that Malta had gone backwards in the research and development sector, and a new Labour government would have the vision to move forward and regenerate the country.