Giov. DeMartino’s quotations (TMID, 29 November) from the “Chronicle of 20th Century Malta”, inspired me to remember a few quotes too. Such as: “Ma rridux inzidu taxxi fil-pajjiz” (“We do not want to increase taxes in our country”). This was said by Dr Eddie Fenech Adami, PN leader, on the eve of a general election. We all know what happened regarding taxes after the PN won the election!

“Ha jgholew il-prezzijiet” (“Let prices rise”), was also said by the same Dr Fenech Adami. Today’s Prime Minister is following in Dr Fenech Adami’s footsteps by declaring: “Ftit tista’ taghmel dwar l-gholi fil-prezzijiet” (“There is little one can do about rising prices”).

“Mitt miljun lira fis-sena mill-UE”, (“Lm100 million a year from the EU”), claimed the then PN deputy leader in the presence of Dr Fenech Adami, again on the eve of a general election. Today we know that the most Malta can receive in EU funds this year is Lm39 million, if all goes well! This was stated by Dr Lawrence Gonzi in his recent budget speech.

If we consider what Malta is paying the EU this year – (over Lm22 million), the subsidies it is paying to the agricultural sector (another Lm7 million), about Lm12 million from the Italian Protocol which has now ended due to Malta’s membership in the EU, and the millions of liri this membership is costing Malta due to the structures which had to be created to conform to EU requirements, and about which Dr Gonzi never said a single word, – we would find that Malta is already “in the red” financially, with the EU!

“We will rebuild the Royal Opera House” was promised in the 1951/2 manifesto; “We will abolish income tax” was promised by the PN on the eve of the1971 general election; “We will give you one Malta lira for each pound sterling”; “We will give Lm5 per week to housewives”; “We will…..”, “We will….”, and so on and on!

Eddy Privitera

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