Liberalisation should benefit the consumer. In the last few days this subject was mentioned and debated for quite some time. We had protests from transport workers and while they were doing so their representatives were stating that they are not against liberalisation. So why protest? To tell the whole truth these transport workers had a letter signed by the previous minister responsible for transport stating that the Nationalist Party was not going to liberalise this sector. This was only a couple of months ago – prior to the last general election. Whether this was an exercise in vote catching it is up to you to decide because I am sure that the Nationalist Party did everything they could and could not to deceive the voters.

In the case of transport we have a private monopoly and not a government owned one. I am saying this because if from state monopolies at least the consumer/citizen may gain in some way or another, in the case of private monopolies it is a lose-lose situation. In the case of transport, which of course needs an overhaul to provide a decent service to the commuters, we still have to wait and see what will be the outcome and the price that the tax payer has to pay for this to happen. Yes the price that the tax payer has to pay. In fact it is always the consumer that has to pay, obviously hoping that in the end it gains from liberalisation. Be it a public or a private monopoly it is always the tax payer that has to fork out or lose money.

In the case of the hearses the government agreed to pay e230,000 for partial liberalisation. Can someone explain the reason why this sum is being paid by the tax payer who after all some day or another is going to make use of this service at a price of course?

The tax payer has every right to a detailed explanation. Now we hope that the discussions between the government and the transport association lead to some significant changes and that this time round, it is the consumer who gains. Forking out more money to continue having the same kind of service is not good. And they keep telling us that it is only the shipyards that are being subsidised!

Yes let us liberalise. The Malta Labour Party is in favour, provided that it is the citizen who benefits from liberalisation. The Leader of the Party Joseph Muscat, as an MEP, explained that since December 2006 he has been arguing in favour of

liberalisation. He also published an exchange of correspondence that he sent and received from the European Commission. In March 2008 the Nationalist Party was against (vide Jesmond Mugliett’s letter). Now they did a u-turn out of which we hope that it will benefit the consumer.

Banda San Mikiel Zabbar

Recently I was invited to inaugurate an exhibition organised by the female section of the St Michael Band Club of Zabbar to celebrate the 25th anniversary since this active section was set-up. It was indeed a very good initiative where culture and talent prevailed. Paintings, sculpture, ganutell, lace and beading dolls together with other works, made it a fantastic exhibition. Maybe some look at band clubs in different ways, but the talent and hard work that they put in is second to none. I believe that our country’s cultural policy should include our band clubs that are found in every town and village in Malta and Gozo.

New responsibilities

After years shadowing education, youth, sports and culture now I have new responsibilities within the Labour Party parliamentary group. Joseph Muscat asked me to shadow industry and foreign investment which includes the promotion of investment and the Malta Enterprise. This is a new challenge which also gives me new enthusiasm to work for the benefit of the country. Until now I am also Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

My first commitment as shadow minister for industry was to attend a conference organised by Ernst & Young about an attractiveness survey which they carried out. It was very interesting and sheds light on what are our strengths and where, as a country, we need to improve.

The link between education and industry was raised and I believe that we need to work more on the training and re-training of our human resources. Also we need to have some specialisations as well especially in a number of areas were highly skilled and trained personnel are required. Of course I felt more at home during these interventions because after all this is what the Labour Party was proposing both in the field of education and in industry.

e-mail: [email protected]

Carmelo Abela

Deputy Speaker &

Labour main spokesperson for industry and foreign investment