“As things stand today there is an incredibly large percentage of the population living on the minimum wage, which means that they must be living in poverty,” said Azzjoni Nazzjonali’s leader Dr Josie Muscat yesterday during a walkabout held in Hamrun’s High Street.
“We want to increase the minimum wage so that the standard of living of Maltese people can improve, and create a tax threshold so that any tax on overtime and part-time earnings is fixed at 18 per cent. We therefore agree with Labour’s concept that overtime and part-time earnings have their tax reduced as an incentive, however we do not feel that this should be free, as everyone must have a social conscience and contribute towards helping those who suffer,” said Dr Muscat.
AN believes that in the south we have huge assets such as in the Cottonera area “We want to create as many incentives as possible to push the restoration of degraded localities such as Cottonera,” said Dr Muscat.
“For this purpose we are proposing that the next government finds land where to build 600 flats on condition that they do not cost more than Lm20,000 each. This will be a Social Housing Project. Besides for those who want to convert their homes into a business such as a restaurant or a bar, they will be able to buy the property at Lm20,000 and have their down payment paid for,” he added.
Finally AN are proposing that with regards vacant houses built before 1959, landlords will pay five per cent tax on the rent they make, and 20 per cent of the expenses, while for those buildings built after 1959 the landlords will pay 18 per cent tax on their rental earnings, and 20 per cent of the expenses.
AN’s deputy leader Mr Anglu Xuereb said: “We also want to have a Circular Bus Route System in the most highly commercialised areas of the islands, and an Inter-change network expanded to include Mater Dei Hospital, University, Marsa and Ghajn Dwieli near the Drydocks. We want to see a total reform of public transport so that buses are more efficient and more frequent.”
Dr Josie Muscat and Mr Angelo Xuereb, accompanied by AN candidates Ms Maria Gauci, and Mr Paul Salamone completed their walkabout around various shops along Hamrun’s High Street, the purpose of which was to gage how shop-owners are doing and what kind of problems they are facing, amongst which was especially mentioned the parking problems consumers are facing, which has had a negative effect on business.