The Labour Party is proposing alternatives to the Nationalist government’s lack of strategies in a number of sectors, because “people have a strong desire for change”, Labour Leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Addressing a media conference following his reply to the budget speech presented in Parliament last week, Dr Sant said Budget 2008 reflects a sense of panic and the government gave “too little, too late”.

Too little, too late for families, for enterprises and for all those carrying a burden due to bad governance, said the Labour leader.

In Budget 2008, according to Dr Sant, the government loosened its belt for electoral convenience.

The Labour leader said that when it is elected to government, the MLP will adopt a zero-tolerance attitude in light of corruption, with a view to increasing transparency and accountability.

He said the MLP will have ministers who also act as managers, ensuring that people in power know that they have to be responsible and accountable.

Replying to questions put forward by journalists, Dr Sant insisted that one of Labour’s primary aims was to stimulate economic growth.

The party’s plan for a new beginning, based on sound economic and social policies, show that change is possible.

“We will bring about change in a calm manner. We will control the cost of living by cutting the surcharge in half and strengthening the agency that regulates prices and ensures fair competition,” said Dr Sant.

Replying to a question by The Malta Independent regarding how Labour planned to finance its proposal to cut the surcharge by half, considering the ever-increasing price of oil internationally, the Opposition Leader said the surcharge proposal was one of the party’s main priorities.

“In light of such a question, I ask, how does the Nationalist government plan to finance its measure to reduce income tax? We will sustain our proposal primarily by stimulating economic growth,” he insisted.