During the debate between Dr Joseph Muscat and Dr Lawrence Gonzi held last Wednesday, Tony Zahra, president of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) made a statement that provided food for thought.

Mr Zahra underlined the fact that the primary motor of Malta’s wealth creation is the private sector. Thus, the private sector must be given more opportunities to participate in the government’s role as catalyst to generate wealth. 

Mr Zahra was highly critical of the manner in which public funds collected from the wealth created by the private sector were being utilised and spent by the government.

This argument blended well with Dr Joseph Muscat’s affirmation that a new Labour government will be vigorous in stimulating economic activity through private-public initiatives. This synergy can stimulate much needed economic growth in a sustainable manner. A synergy that will result in more jobs, better working conditions and greater opportunities for all.

This approach is an effective way to address one of Malta’s greatest challenges, namely a more efficacious application of the country’s resources, limited as they may be. A great opportunity to stimulate our significant ability to be creative.

Economic growth is crucial to our future. Our National Debt has increased significantly over recent years and positive action is needed to correct this trend. It is indeed pertinent to note that a quarter of Malta’s total debt burden has been created over the past nine years under the Gonzi administration. This statistic becomes even more pronounced when one notes that the government was, at this time, benefiting from income generated by the sale of the bulk of the nation’s silver.  

This performance shows that a Gonzi administration does not have the wherewithal to rise to the challenge of meeting the demands on our nation, made by the stability pact, without eating heavily into our standard of living. Gonzi’s mind-set has from the very outset ignored the financial implications of his policies. The GonziPN policies have failed to stimulate growth at the required rate.

Gonzi’s governments squandered millions of euros and ran for cover, hiding behind the international crises when our growth potential remained real and untapped. GonziPN simply does not have any commitment to carry out the necessary reforms that are only too obvious to the casual onlooker yet obscure to the oligarchy that is only able to look at its own short-term interests as it ignores the greater national interest.

This is why Labour pledges to fight bureaucracy. Transparent procedures and more efficient systems will be the principal aims of the reforms needed to create the ideal environment for businesses to grow and prosper. Systems should be in place to stimulate economic activity not hamper it. This approach will, furthermore, create an ideal infrastructure where public and private resources can work together in harmony to achieve economic growth that will render our economy, environment, social infrastructure and our cultural dynamism sustainable.

It is evident that GonziPN has run out of what it takes to provide Malta with the proper levels of successful governance. The Labour Party is, in contrast, willing to serve the nation through its energy, vision, people, experience and determination. To do this we need all resources to be brought together to work in harmony and enthusiasm in a culture of ‘yes we will!’

Dr Zrinzo Azzopardi is the President of the Labour Party