Labour Party officials said that even though the government promised the creation of thousands of jobs in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, there are not enough graduates to meet demands if these jobs are eventually created.

Labour MP Chris Cardona said that the government promised 1500 graduates a year in ICT related services. However, up to this year, only 40 per cent of this demand was met, which included MCAST and University of Malta graduates. Furthermore, added Dr Cardona, the government promised over 4000 ICT jobs in Malta and 250 jobs in Gozo. However, little of this quota was met.

Replying in the parliamentary debate on the estimates allocated to the Ministry for Information, Technology and Investment, Dr Cardona added that there were proposals in this year’s budget which were already promised last year, citing the use of electronic ID cards as prime example.

Dr Cardona also called on the responsible minister, Austin Gatt, to say whether the introduction of the fiber to home technology plans will be completed on time. (Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) refers to the provisioning of narrowband and broadband services to the residential customer over an optical cable rather than traditional copper wiring). It is not fair that the government is blaming the economic crisis for failing to complete such projects, when other countries are moving ahead in technology.

Dr Cardona also said that even though Dr Gatt claimed that the Smart City project was thought to be the cornerstone of the Maltese economy, not only does the Maltese public not have assurances that the project will be completed on time, but although further similar projects were promised, nothing so far has been revealed. Because of such promises, the Labour Party MP said that a number of students have opted to study IT at the MCAST and University of Malta but now have no guarantee that they will find work in this field.

According to Dr Cardona, with only 49.4 per cent of the public having access to the Internet on the island, Malta is listed to be fourth from bottom in a list of 66 countries in a broadband quality test. To add insult to injury, the government promised in the last election that 75 per cent will be ICT literate within the coming few months.

Opposition parliamentary whip Joe Mizzi added that before progress can be achieved in Malta, the government needs to become aware of the existing instances of corruption taking place within the Malta Maritime Authority and the Malta Transport Authority.

Mr Mizzi stated that the Opposition finds it unbelievable that the public transport reform is taking place without consultations with the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs because the transport reform should go hand in hand with the energy reform. However, instead of consultation, those concerned are being stubborn and refusing to cooperate, said Mr Mizzi.

Mr Mizzi also said that the Malta Maritime Authority has also washed its hands from various responsibilities, with inquests lodged yet to yield any successful results. Mr Mizzi said that certain captains have had their maritime certificates forged and are not there on merit. In the meantime, what counts is how many votes Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono gains during the time of an election and how much promises she hands out once the election is over, stated Mr Mizzi.

During past Labour Party legislations, such corruption never existed, so much so that between the years 1996-1998 cases of corruption were dying down. However they have exploded in recent years, commented Mr Mizzi.

Also on behalf of the Opposition, Charles Buhagiar said that the focus on completing the Cirkewwa terminal, the restoration of the Valletta bastions and the installation of the Upper Barracka lift is proof that the recent budget is one based on broken promises, because such projects were earmarked for completion in previous budgets. Furthermore, the reconstruction of Freedom Square and St George’s square will result in 800 less parking spaces and the government has yet to find solutions in creating new ones.

On behalf of the Labour Party, Joe Debono Grech, Helena Dalli and Marlene Pullicino also criticised the government for neglecting the fortifications around Valletta, not completing the Cirkewwa terminal and failing to wipe corruption that exists in the Gozo Channel company over the course of recent years.

Labour Party officials said that even though the government promised the creation of thousands of jobs in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, there are not enough graduates to meet demands if these jobs are eventually created.

Labour MP Chris Cardona said that the government promised 1500 graduates a year in ICT related services. However, up to this year, only 40 per cent of this demand was met, which included MCAST and University of Malta graduates. Furthermore, added Dr Cardona, the government promised over 4000 ICT jobs in Malta and 250 jobs in Gozo. However, little of this quota was met.

Replying in the parliamentary debate on the estimates allocated to the Ministry for Information, Technology and Investment, Dr Cardona added that there were proposals in this year’s budget which were already promised last year, citing the use of electronic ID cards as prime example.

Dr Cardona also called on the responsible minister, Austin Gatt, to say whether the introduction of the fiber to home technology plans will be completed on time. (Fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) refers to the provisioning of narrowband and broadband services to the residential customer over an optical cable rather than traditional copper wiring). It is not fair that the government is blaming the economic crisis for failing to complete such projects, when other countries are moving ahead in technology.

Dr Cardona also said that even though Dr Gatt claimed that the Smart City project was thought to be the cornerstone of the Maltese economy, not only does the Maltese public not have assurances that the project will be completed on time, but although further similar projects were promised, nothing so far has been revealed. Because of such promises, the Labour Party MP said that a number of students have opted to study IT at the MCAST and University of Malta but now have no guarantee that they will find work in this field.

According to Dr Cardona, with only 49.4 per cent of the public having access to the Internet on the island, Malta is listed to be fourth from bottom in a list of 66 countries in a broadband quality test. To add insult to injury, the government promised in the last election that 75 per cent will be ICT literate within the coming few months.

Opposition parliamentary whip Joe Mizzi added that before progress can be achieved in Malta, the government needs to become aware of the existing instances of corruption taking place within the Malta Maritime Authority and the Malta Transport Authority.

Mr Mizzi stated that the Opposition finds it unbelievable that the public transport reform is taking place without consultations with the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs because the transport reform should go hand in hand with the energy reform. However, instead of consultation, those concerned are being stubborn and refusing to cooperate, said Mr Mizzi.

Mr Mizzi also said that the Malta Maritime Authority has also washed its hands from various responsibilities, with inquests lodged yet to yield any successful results. Mr Mizzi said that certain captains have had their maritime certificates forged and are not there on merit. In the meantime, what counts is how many votes Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono gains during the time of an election and how much promises she hands out once the election is over, stated Mr Mizzi.

During past Labour Party legislations, such corruption never existed, so much so that between the years 1996-1998 cases of corruption were dying down. However they have exploded in recent years, commented Mr Mizzi.

Also on behalf of the Opposition, Charles Buhagiar said that the focus on completing the Cirkewwa terminal, the restoration of the Valletta bastions and the installation of the Upper Barracka lift is proof that the recent budget is one based on broken promises, because such projects were earmarked for completion in previous budgets. Furthermore, the reconstruction of Freedom Square and St George’s square will result in 800 less parking spaces and the government has yet to find solutions in creating new ones.

On behalf of the Labour Party, Joe Debono Grech, Helena Dalli and Marlene Pullicino also criticised the government for neglecting the fortifications around Valletta, not completing the Cirkewwa terminal and failing to wipe corruption that exists in the Gozo Channel company over the course of recent years.