Last Friday, the annual parliamentary marathon discussing the year’s budget came to an end. Following Opposition Leader Alfred Sant’s reply to the budget speech and the Prime Minister’s speech two days later, we had hours of analysis of each ministry’s performance over the last year and the proposals for 2008. At the end of it all, we voted and, in line with our parliamentary majority, the results went in favour of the government. I firmly believe that the opposition’s negative criticism came out the loser to the government’s proactive and positive proposals.

The Nationalist Party in government can do no right in the eyes of the beholders on the opposition benches. What was said made it even more obvious that there was no love lost. As is the tradition, the opposition proposes a reduction in the minister’s salary (EUR3) as a vote of no confidence. However, why they continually voted against the multitude of positive proposals in the various sectors is inconceivable as well as unacceptable.

Labour has been clamouring all along and beating its droning drums when addressing inflation and the need for more investment. Budget 2008 gave them the opportunity of having it all on a plate – placed before the country ready for the taking and consumption. In spite of this they voted with their repetitive chorus of “nays”. At the end of the day, their negative reaction simply reflected their dire disappointment that they were not the ones to make the proposals.

Why did they vote against?

• The Capital investment of Lm6 million for the strengthening of the infrastructure. The construction of more industrial areas in Hal Far and the further capital investment in the school building and R & D section within the Education Ministry.

• The broadening of income tax bands enabling one and all to earn more and yet pay less tax on their increased earnings.

• The subsidies in various forms being given to first time property buyers as regards the payment of stamp duty, property ownership equity sharing, and partial subsidy of part of bank interests for home loans.

• The granting of a EUR2,000 tax exemption from taxable income to residents in private old people’s home.

• The granting of the full Lm1.50 (EUR3.5) per week cost of living increase to pensioners.

• The granting of tax exempt amounts to those participating in sport disciplines as well as to those sending their children to private kindergartens.

• The granting of children’s allowance to all children irrespective of the family’s income and the doubling of allowances to those with second, third and other children.

• The exemption from payment of National Insurance contributions for one year to new self-employed business persons – namely for all those acquiring a trading license.

• The rescaling of the pay-packet for AFM personnel. We have even stated that time-in-lieu for working public holidays has been substituted by payment for such duties.

• And so much more

Last Friday – “Sour Grapes” were on the Opposition’s agenda while we were discussing defence and AFM, which fall within the political areas for which I am responsible. Labour MPs Joe Debono Grech and Gavin Gulia have been clamouring for years and bemoaning the fact, they say, that the AFM are forgotten people. Now that we have addressed their remuneration packet, whereby over a three-year period the monthly wage will increase by an average of Lm50+ per month, both Labour speakers had the cheek to keep on hammering away that we have done nothing for those involved with AFM/ defence.

Unfortunately the whole basis of their criticism seems to have been provided by ill-informed persons, who may form part of our forces, and who are more intent on putting me, the Commander of the Armed Forces and the establishment in bad light rather than carry out their duties.

Well, every coin has two sides and can also have two values. On the one side it can mean that its value has enough purchasing power to satisfy one’s needs and more.

On the other it can turn out to be too little in value to even address one’s basic needs. Yet if one does not have that coin in his pocket, whatever its effect, it would mean that he/she has no financial means to address one’s needs and to a much lesser degree his/her priorities.

Labour, in the way they voted in Parliament, are obviously happy to have you not owning that coin.

Tony Abela is Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of

the Prime Minister.