During the current year, the people will continue to feel the positive impact of measures introduced by the government, which are leading to a reduced deficit, more foreign investment, more job opportunities and an improved economy, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.
Speaking in Qala, Dr Gonzi said that as from this month, workers and pensioners will have more money to spend because the income tax bands have been revised. Public officers have also had their wages improved through a collective agreement, and this meant that pensioners whose pension was linked with the public service will also be better off.
Giving particular attention to Gozo issues, Dr Gonzi said that as from this year, Gozitan entrepreneurs involved in the tourism industry will be paying 75 per cent of the licence paid by their Maltese counterparts.
The introduction of a scheme by Gozo Channel has resulted in a record 3.5 million passengers crossing over to Gozo, a factor that contributed to enhance the island’s economy. More initiatives aimed to help Gozo in this regard were to be announced soon, Dr Gonzi said.
While the country’s deficit has been reduced, the people had Lm18 million more to spend, and this happened at a time when the country had to face a Lm50 million increase in its oil bill.
This confirmed the progress achieved by the country, the Prime Minister said, adding that the government is working hard for Malta to meet all criteria to change over from the lira to the euro.
These results brought to nothing the Malta Labour Party’s criticism that the country is facing a crisis.
The MLP painted a distorted picture and tried to demoralise the people, but reality showed otherwise.
Dr Gonzi said the MLP has now embarked on a campaign to attack the National Statistics Office.
The MLP did not believe the positive results obtained while it agreed with figures that were negative, and this exposed the MLP as being a party that is “dangerous”.
He said that during the Christmas and New Year activities the PN chose to suspend its political activities.
On the other hand, the MLP opted to continue its fund-raising campaigns at a time when other organisations were raising funds for charity.
Dr Gonzi also spoke about the meeting he had with Pope Benedict XVI in Rome earlier this week, saying that it was clear that His Holiness held Malta as a special place.
He said the Pope asked about the changes that were taking place in the Church in Malta with the appointment of a new Archbishop.
Irregular immigration and the institution of the family were among the subjects discussed at the meeting, together with the possibility that Malta will have its first saint in Dun Gorg Preca.