The Labour Party is committed to revive the country from its stagnant state and will work so that no person would be left behind on the basis of financial strength, Labour leader Charles Mangion said yesterday.

Speaking during the second session of the party’s extraordinary general conference in Hamrun, Dr Mangion said that the four plans on education, industry, health and Gozo showed that the party was fully connected with the people and showed that the state has to continue providing these basic services for an improved quality of life.

He said that the health service was under threat but the Labour Party would continue to provide free services in this sector for those who really needed it and no one would be left behind.

The Labour deputy leader said that the economic wealth of the country should not be in the hands of the few but should be distributed equally among all. He said that Labour had consulted heavily with all interested parties on the eventual formulation of these four plans.

Dr Mangion said that the Nationalist government had shown itself to be incompetent and corrupt, referring to the recent auditor general’s report on the financial scandal at the Voice of the Mediterranean radio station. He said that the people have a right to know how public funds are being squandered in an alarming manner with ministers spending an average of Lm 1,200 per night in foreign travel.

Dr Mangion said that several factories and businesses were under threat with several companies having to shut down shop with employees losing their jobs. He also referred to the Malta Tourism Authority where Lm50 million has been spent with no results with the tourism sector currently experiencing chronic problems.

The Labour deputy leader said that government debt had soared to astronomical levels and had now reached Lm1.5 billion and this was clearly unsustainable with interest payments reaching Lm80 million a year – as much as the whole annual expenditure on health. He said that we have historically high levels of unemployment with the government suffering from an income shortage with tax levels at the highest levels in the EU.

Dr Mangion said that the government continued squandering public funds on consultancies with over Lm7 million being spent last year. He said that the party documents showed a clear vision and the way forward in all four areas.

Dr Mangion spoke about the changes taking place in the globalised world including those in India and China where education is paramount to give the added boost to employment in high technology areas.

Speaking on the health sector, he said that the Mater Dei Hospital was expected to cost an astronomical Lm250 million with the result that the whole system is disintegrating. The document on health looked to address these chronic problems and ensured that no person would be excluded from such services on the basis of financial considerations.

Speaking on pension reform, Dr Mangion said that the government only wanted to create additional revenue and conform to the financial targets so that the euro can eventually be introduced. He said that the Labour Party was only tackling the problem in around 2010 when it was expected that the pensions issue would have to be addressed.

Labour spokesperson for education Carmelo Abela said that education was one of the principal pillars of social progress and the party was committed to create opportunities for the country’s youth within the world of work. He said that the Labour Party had a glorious history in education and was one of the pioneers in this sector, paying tribute to the late President Agatha Barbara, a stalwart former education minister in the difficult times of the post-war years.

Mr Abela said that the government was disconnected from reality and was presenting an Education Bill in parliament which was disjointed and without substance. He said that Malta had an average rate of students who leave school early at 44.5 per cent, almost four times more than the EU average of 14.9 per cent.

The Labour spokesperson said that the Labour plan for education covers all sectors such as tertiary education, vocational and primary schools and also looked at the social aspect so that no student with talent would be left behind.

Labour spokesperson for industry, Chris Agius said that the party was committed to revive Malta’s industrial base back to the levels in which it was 20-30 years ago. He said that there was no longer any job security in this sector citing examples in Air Malta, Sea Malta (liquidated), Enemalta, Water Services Corporation and Malta Shipyards.

Mr Agius also mentioned the privatisation of Mid-Med Bank, Maltacom and the Lotto which were handed over to foreign companies at a pittance. He said that the PN treated this sector as the “Cinderella” of the economy but Labour was committed to revive the industry with a realistic and holistic plan that shows the way forward.

This session of the conference also included speeches by Gavin Gulia, John Attard Montalto, Helena Dalli, Marie Louise Coleiro, Joe Vella Bonnici and Alfred Griscti.

The delegates unanimously approved the party’s plans on education and industry by a show of hands at the end of the conference session.

A minute’s silence was also observed in honour of the late speakers of parliament, Kalcidon Agius and Joseph Baldacchino who passed away earlier this year.