Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, during a public dialogue meeting in Naxxar, yesterday encouraged the Maltese and Gozitans to continue learning and investing in themselves through lifelong education.

The meeting formed part of the Nationalist Party’s activities for Worker’s Day.

“Ongoing training and education is important. People have to keep on investing in themselves and the government will continue investing in you,” said Dr Gonzi.

The government will not subsidise PBS, Sea Malta or the Malta Shipyards but will keep on subsidising education and lifelong learning, he added.

Following several comments from the public, which was mainly made up of young people, Dr Gonzi remarked that their positive accounts of their experiences as EU students were all the more effective for being first-hand reports.

He pointed out that one of the youths, who had praised Dr Gonzi for Malta’s success in the SmartCity deal, was one of the 12 Maltese students who had achieved the best results in a worldwide IT exam.

“Once we see these various stories of success, we realise that it can be done – and it is being done at the moment by the Nationalist government,” said Dr Gonzi.

The educational system is creating opportunities for everyone – not only were stipends introduced by the Nationalist government but these were also increased over the years, he said.

Furthermore, added Dr Gonzi, the Education Ministry recently introduced the scholarship system, allowing people who want to take up a post-graduate degree in other countries.

“However, we will still continue helping those who cannot make it to the highest levels of education,” he said.

Dr Gonzi pointed out that he spoke to a number of female technicians on a recent visit to Lufthansa Technik.

“I realised that these women did not start off with a lot of O-levels and A-levels, but they managed to get their job due to the training that was offered by the company,” he said.

He added that part of the negotiations behind the SmartCity deal ensured that at least 2,000 jobs will be available to the Maltese. “We are bringing about a change from now for the country’s future and its young people,” said Dr Gonzi.

The government is aiming to transform Malta into the EU’s top financial centre by 2015, he said. “We will guarantee that Maltese workers will become the best in this field – they already are well trained and professional,” he said.

The manufacturing industry is one of the main pillars of Malta’s industry, he said. “However, it is changing. It is no longer the same industry that it was 20 years ago,” said Dr Gonzi.

He said that the government was worried when a number of factories had to close over the past years and many workers were made redundant. “Luckily we ensured that many were re-employed in other companies or in other sectors,” he said.

The Maltese government purposefully chose to invest heavily in the pharmaceutical industry, which now has become a booming part of the economy, explained Dr Gonzi.

“However, it is important to realise that these things did not come about due to a coincidence – we worked hard to achieve these successes,” he said. Furthermore, added Dr Gonzi, the government aims to transform Malta into the best tourism centre by 2015 using EU funds. “We want to make a visit to Malta an unrepeatable experience,” he said.

Within a few weeks, there will be the official opening of Mater Dei hospital, giving the Maltese the highest quality possible of healthcare, said Dr Gonzi.

“It is important not to look at the building – no matter how nice it is. Instead, look at the equipment, the nurses, students, doctors and all those who will work there,” he said.

Everyone must celebrate Worker’s Day by realising that there is work available and that it is the best around, he said.

Dr Gonzi said that he had asked Tecom Investments executive chairman Ahmad Bin Byat, over dinner, why Malta was chosen for the SmartCity project over other countries. “He told me that Malta has good workers who are flexible, hardworking and ambitious,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Finance Ministry Tonio Fenech pointed out that Worker’s Day coincides with the third anniversary of Malta’s membership in the EU. “This too, along with the euro changeover, was not a coincidence, but a result of strategic planning and foresight for Malta’s good,” said Mr Fenech.

Education Minister Louis Galea said that its years in government, the Labour Party never did anything for the higher secondary schools in Naxxar that were built by the Nationalist government.

“Under a Labour government, there was less work available and it was worst type of work possible,” he said.

However, said Dr Galea, Malta is now on the threshold of a new phase – the success that the government has achieved so far will continue being built on.

Right now, said Dr Galea, the government is focusing on the 4,000 people who are registering for work with the Employment and Training Centre (ETC).

“In this year’s budget, the government allocated Lm6 million for the ETC to help these people,” he explained.