The Malta Labour Party is confident that “we can work for a better country in 2008”, Labour leader Alfred Sant said in a recorded transmission on One TV yesterday evening.

The MLP yesterday confirmed that Dr Sant’s message for 2008 was recorded before he was admitted to hospital to undergo a major operation on Thursday.

In his message, the Labour leader said 2007 was a year of challenges, difficulties and news that pleased many families.

The country should learn from its experiences, to be able to build on its achievements while understanding that certain things have to improve, said Dr Sant.

The desire for a change (of government) increased towards the end of the year, said Dr Sant, adding that such a change would help the country better face economic, social and cultural challenges, “because too many European countries are leaving us behind”.

“The country has to understand the huge capabilities of the Maltese. We have to build on what we have done as a country. People want a change, which would have to happen in a tranquil manner.”

In his message, Dr Sant also spoke about difficulties that people face at work and in the family, among others. He said he himself is facing personal problems at the moment, but he said problems are not the most important thing; it is how you face the problems and how you look to the future that really matters.

In his concluding remarks, the Labour leader referred to the MLP’s regional development plans drafted over the past months. He said these plans are intended to offer more employment opportunities and mentioned the need to give more importance to education, particularly in the primary sector.