Opposition Leader Alfred Sant said a new Labour government’s top priority will be that of improving the quality of life of the Maltese which will be done by leaving more cash in the people’s pockets.

Speaking during a Super One television programme, in which he announced that the Malta Labour Party (MLP) will launch its Grand Harbour Regional Development plan on Saturday, Dr Sant said the MLP would see to keep cash in people’s pockets by axing the fuel surcharge by half, income tax on overtime work as well as helping property first-time buyers and monitor price movements.

The MLP leader said families would immediately benefit from increased cash in hand once the fuel surcharge was axed. He said that increased disposable income would encourage more consumption. Dr Sant said the measure would not encourage the wasting of fuel as this was not in the interest of anyone.

He stated that the country badly needs to create more jobs and the wavering of income tax on overtime was an ideal scheme to reward those who work more. The more people work, he said, the more firms become competitive and in turn, the more they create jobs. The MLP was not trying to reinvent the wheel, said Dr Sant, as there are other countries that do not tax overtime. He said that unlike the prime minister, the MLP was not satisfied with the country’s economic growth rate. He described the government’s estimates on the measure as “fairytales” and said it is scaring the population, while the MLP had the courage to boost the country’s position.

Dr Sant said an MLP government would help property first time buyers through several initiatives, such as subsidising 10 per cent of the purchasing price of a property costing less than Lm50,000 as well as subsidising interest rates higher than 4.5 per cent. The party also proposed a discount on stamp duty and a moratorium on repayments for redundant people.

Dr Sant insisted that that a new Labour government will be vigilant in making sure that the free market conditions are being abided by. He said that price controls are no longer relevant; however, his government would make sure to eradicate any underhanded agreements. He said Malta provides an ideal scenario for such dealings, while all the EU countries have a price monitoring agency or authority. He also referred to the EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner who said that there is no consumer protection system in place in Malta.

The Labour leader acknowledged the fact that there is imported inflation; however, there is a degree of local overpricing. He criticised the prize freeze agreement signed between several importers and the government. Dr Sant held that there were a number of price movements prior to the agreement and that inflation would be bound to rise at a steep gradient after the agreement expires in March.

The government is aware of this, said the Opposition leader, however, it is only interested in curbing price changes until the next elections. On the contrary, an MLP government would ask the signatories to extend the agreement by two months in order to have a price monitoring mechanism in place for the best interests of consumers.

Dr Sant said the MLP will lead a positive electoral campaign and will continue developing its ideas as the campaign unfolds. He said that the country needs a boost in consumption and exports, a rise in private investment and better monitoring of public capital expenditure.

He criticised the way the government is carrying out road building projects and bringing the same excuse; that unexpected things cropped up and promised better management and coordination between the government’s various departments and ministries.

In reply, the Urban Development Ministry criticised Dr Sant for bending facts and speaking half truths. It said the 90s Labour government only built two roads with high overruns.

Dr Sant lashed at “manipulations”, such as the interview with Prime Minister Gonzi on The Sunday Times in which he said Opposition members congratulated him for the 2008 budget. Dr Sant said it was very strange that the prime minister replied to each point of his speech which was made in the evening, while the interview was made earlier on the same day.

He said the biggest threat to democracy was coming from the public broadcasting. Current affairs programmes were being manipulated as part of the Nationalist Party electoral campaign in order to influence public opinion.

Dr Sant also cried foul play at the way a presenter of programme on budget measures had asked Parliamentary Secretary Tonio Fenech’s estimates prior to the airing of the show and failed to do the same with MLP’s Charles Mangion.