In an attempt to try and persuade the electorate, Dr Joseph Muscat is emphasising that the Labour Party will be making guarantees. These pronouncements by the Opposition Leader simply demonstrate that the Labour Party is trying hard to convince us that it will be ‘safe’ to vote for them. However, these submissions are simply a guarantee that the Labour Party is still trying hard to convince itself that it can be an alternative, let alone persuade us that it has the right policies in place to govern our country.

The endless opportunities available today for students, youths, workers, small businesses and enterprises are simply a confirmation that the PN in government guarantees opportunities for everyone. The recent statements made by Labour MP Adrian Vassallo only confirmed what we already knew, that the Labour Party has only one objective, which is to govern at all costs, even without having realistic plans and targets.

In these last four years, we have strived hard to keep the individual at the centre of all our activity. We have worked endlessly in the sectors of small and medium enterprise, land administration and fair competition in a free market environment, and have also acted to protect consumer rights. Although surrounded by significant economic crises in our neighbouring countries, we have managed to create the right environment to generate diverse employment opportunities. We have presented a number of incentives to nearly 63,000 small businesses that employ more than 100,000 people.

Together with the Finance Ministry, we are managing important schemes such as MicroInvest so that small businesses that employ no more than 10 workers can benefit by up to €25,000 in tax credit on investment made in their business. As a result, this scheme alone has generated 250 new jobs and more than 1,050 businesses have invested in the region of €17 million, benefiting from tax credits of €6 million in the process.

Small businesses have also benefited from European Regional Development Funds. More than 570 companies have benefited directly from €42 million worth of grants that have used to pay electricity bills and, more importantly, to fund research and development. Last month, Malta Enterprise made the last call for ERDF funds and more than 200 businesses applied for €14 million in grants in order to expand their going concerns. These entrepreneurs intend to invest no less than €34 million back into the economy.

We also launched the Microcredit scheme in order to help small enterprises. More than 250 businesses have benefited from €23 million worth of BOV subsidised loans. The government and the European Investment Bank actually subsidised these special loans and small businesses have benefited from having 10 years to repay them, despite providing very little or no guarantee.

With the launch of Business First, we have also greatly reduced bureaucracy and intend to decrease it further by reducing the number of licences and costs required in order to run a business.

Safeguarding the rights of the consumer has always been a priority for this government and the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority is leaving its mark. The launch of the ‘Trust You’ mark is enabling consumers to identify more qualitative shops. We are working hard to establish fair prices for medication and, following negotiations, the price of no fewer than 239 items have been lowered in recent years. The Authority has also been involved in the inspection of playing fields, gas regulators, pesticides and fuel pumps.

The administration of public land also has an important place in the government’s programme and a record number of enforcement against abuse notices have been issued. In 2007 there were 70 inspections, while 993 were carried out in 2011. A record of contracts has been completed to pay off ground rents.

More families have now gained full ownership of their home and in 2011 no fewer than 430 contracts were signed. The Ministry has also embarked on the process of helping families in the Home Ownership Schemes. In 1981, the Labour government took away private land without compensating the owners for the loss of their property. In the last three years we have paid more than €7 million so that 450 families have benefited from these schemes and become owners of their homes. Last year we also paid a total of €14 million to the original landowners.

This PN government is a government that listens and cares – one that puts the individual at the centre of its efforts. By keeping the individual at the centre of its guiding principles, the PN is – quite simply – a reliable guarantee in itself.