The General Council of the PN is has just concluded, with local council candidates having delivered speeches, urging people to vote in the April 11 local council elections.
A number of candidates highlighted the ongoing Cafe Premier scandal, stating that Transparency and good governance are not priorities for the current government.
The change occurring within the party was also touched upon, with a number of 'new bloods' speaking at the conference, expressing their gratitude and their aim of building on ideas already present within the party.
An unexpected face turned up during the conference. Richard Sammut was described as a former Labour activist, and PN candidate Hermann Schiavone approached and greeted him. Mr Schiavone claimed that government was taking it's supporters for granted. With reference to pre-2013 election speeches, he asked "which government is full of cliques?"
James Muscat - Mosta
James Muscat said that people contesting the local council elections know the community and people individually. I believe in the principle of local councils and are again offering my services to Mosta, he said. "The Mosta council went through colourful times. Up until three years ago, the council was run by Labour and there was a lot of confusion. There was no direction. Mosta decided to turn to the PN," he said. I can say that we have worked to improve Mosta and change the negative perception of the council.
He said he hoped that residents would look at Mosta with admiration. We used EU funds, fixed roads, listened to residents and applied their requests. This election must serve as a voice for the people, an avenue where they can be heard. A vote for a PN candidate is a vote for a better country, he said.
Joseph Mercieca - Hamrun
Joseph Mercieca, from Hamrun, said he feels emotional, stating that he dreamt for many years of addressing people from “this podium”. He said that he was involved in an accident where he needed around 20 operations in order to recover. He found out that he had cancer two years ago. After treatment he returned to work and found out that “Labour’s Aaron Farrugia took all my work away. They wouldn’t even allow me to return to work”.
He said that there are many people afraid of speaking up, however he is not afraid. “This abuse didn’t scare me, it encouraged me. Be brave and be encouraged that you are Nationalists. Over the past weeks I have had daily home visits. On Thursday I will undergo an operation and hopefully will come out alive. After my operation I will once again go out onto the streets to meet the people of Hamrun," he said.
Joanna Abdilla - Safi
Joanna Abdilla said that it is her first time contesting for local council elections however she always wanted to be close to people in her locality. “Today I appreciate that politics is the best way to help people. She appealed to youths to vote, “especially those voting for the first time. Use this opportunity to give your voice to the community”.
“My work will focus on my community and there I will make a difference. Simon Busuttil will make a difference at a national level”.
David Vassallo – Dingli
David Vassallo said it was the second time he was contesting the local council elections. He said that the common good is not the aim of this current government “We want to make a difference in the way the country is run, and listen to everyone equally, in contrast to what the government does." He mentioned Café Premier, telling people to ask whether other businesses are finding the same help. “Ask the people in Marsaxlokk who were worried about a gas tanker off their coast, when the Prime Minister was worried about gas being used in the Café. Maybe they think these are second class citizens”.
“We will work harder to show the people that we are better and work to improve the lives of Maltese and Gozitans”.
Ivan Bartolo – Rahal Gdid
He said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s roadmap is nowhere to be found. He spoke about Mater Dei, stating that people die in the corridors. “From bad to worse without direction. Nothing new has happened”.
He said that a number of projects have remained on paper in his village. “The PN is a party open to everyone and wants success for our localities." He urged people to make the right choice on 11 April, saying that “we promise we will do all possible for Malta and for our locality. Dr Busuttil we stand behind you, here to help bring the party back to its feet”.
Liam Sciberras – Santa Lucija
Sciberras is 22 year old law student from Santa Lucija. “I believe local councillers serve the people and this is why I chose to be a candidate. I chose the PN as I know the importance of values and honesty. Santa Lucija is a small community.
I voted Labour in the General elections, however I am sure today that the PN is the party of honesty. The PN is working with modern policies.
He said that the PL is personally attacking the former lands commissioner Joseph Bugeja. As a constituent as well as a candidate. He also mentioned the issue surrounding former Minister Manuel Mallia, “I ask, where are the democratic rights?”.
“We have a right to know what is going on around us and I believe the time for dirty politics has ended. While the PN cannot make the difference it wants legislatively, it can do so with a majority in local councils." He mentioned that the PN have 185 candidates for these elections”.
Anthony Grech – St Julians
He spoke of the new blood in the PN, stating that together, “we could achieve a majority”. “Simon Busuttil is making decisions with humility with the interest of both the party and the country. He also paid tribute to former Minister Michael Refalo and former MP Victor Galea Pace who have passed away.
James Aaron Ellul – Floriana
Ellul spoke of the need to look at problems today rather than tomorrow. “We must look at what we have done in the past in order to look to the future.
He said that we should never give up our principles. "We will make a difference I am contesting these elections with enthusiasm towards my locality. I want, with out new ideas, towork towards what I believe. I want to be the voice that makes a difference,"he said.
Alex Mangion -Attard
The 24-year-old is contesting the local council elections for the first time. He said that today there are many new faces to help build on the ideas that already exist, bringing new positive energy to ideas. He said that he is a Transgendered person. “We can make a difference by moving forward with the people. I will listen to you, server you, walk with you, these are my principles. I am one of the youths who heard the call of this party that I believe in”.
Albert Buttigieg – St Julians
“It is not enough for me to be a passive citizen. I want to use my voice in order to build a more inclusive and just society, where nobody feels excluded. Leave the work around you in a better state than you found it. That is my motto”. He said that once you stop listening to people, then they become politicians working purely on rhetoric. He spoke of the importance of taking inspiration from the people themselves. “The mentality of the majority is more important than that of the individual”.
David Thake – St Paul’s Bay
David Thake spoke of vindictive transfers and said that the PN stands shoulder to shoulder with those affected. He said that a stench surrounds Café Premier. He added that the Café has cost Malta millions in just five months. He argued that the €500 increase in the MPs wage back in 2012 would have cost the country €1.3 million in five years. However, said that this is nothing compared with the €4.2 million Cafe Premier Scandal that the government spent in just five months on Cafe Premier. ‘Malta Taghna Lkoll’ has become the joke of the century. “Where there is corruption, we will shed light, were there are lies, we will speak the truth. Where there is vindictiveness we will provide justice," he said.
Justin Fenech – Swieqi
Justin Fenech is the Deputy Mayor of Swieqi. “Principles are our base. We must use politics honestly, based on solid universal principles. The PL uses principles as a buzzword," he said.
Mr Fenech said: “we are ready to work with everyone and we proved this through our work with the 2 PL councillors on our council. We worked towards more security in our locality. We opened a police station in our area”.
“There is still a lot to do and I appeal to people to vote in the coming elections as it is important to continue building on the work we have begun.” He believes that it is important to follow the principles of good governance and transparency.
Ralph Puli – Qormi
We were promised a transparent government yet we got one that lies and hides. We were promised a new power station, however we have remained with what we had and had a tanker off Marsaxlokk. “We can make a difference, we can reintegrate seriousness and honesty into politics”.
“I believe the PN has always served Qormi well, yet government has forgotten about us. He said that they were told traffic was a perception, yet Qormi now suffers from a traffic problem.
Hermann Schiavone – Birzebbugia
Mr Schiavone spoke of ethical standards, stating that such standards are different for the PL. “Today those close to Labour can do what they want and the list of scandals never stops. Information regarding Café Premier is coming out like water from a tap. How could it be, Prime Minister, that you can’t find the money to change the fuel used by the power station when you used money for Premier. It is no wonder certain candidates chose not to contest again," he said. “How can it be that you give promotions to those you want, yet you wasted other people’s time, even real labourites. Muscat thinks he can forget labourites, believing they would vote for him no matter what," he said.
"A number of Labourites have told me that they are not content. I met with a particular person, Richard Sammut a former Labour activist, who is present here. He had the courage to say, Prime Minister you will no longer have a laugh at my expense. Labour cannot keep taking its people for granted. We will be proactive and meet those who always voted labour. Your party used to insult the PN stating they were full of cliques".
"We will work to ensure that everyone feels comfortable with this party". He appealed to Labourites, saying that he understands how hard it is to listen to the PN but urged them to speak up, stating that they have a chance to show their disapproval. “If labour made you promises and have not kept them, tell them that they will no longer take you for granted.”
Damien Spiteri – Munxar
Munxar and Xlendi received a lot of EU funds, he said, adding that they are both PN led. "We must always work in the interest of the locality and the residents".
Noel Galea – Zebbug
“Do not wait for leaders to do it alone,” he said, quoting Mother Theresa. “Our Premier is responsible for high fuel prices. He said that those who voted Labour are getting promotions left, right and centre. “We in the PN are speaking differently, saying that there is no difference between one worker or the next”.
“Through your vote, we can begin to make a difference for the better. We have people from all walks of life, with one uniting factor, we are interested in helping you. We answered the call to serve”.
“We cannot only criticise if we do not show you how our country should be”. He said the PN is a voice for workers as well as businessmen who are suffering as a result of high expenses and the PN will work in the same way within communities, listening to the people”.
He said the PN hopes to uphold the people’s aspirations.
Antonello Cuschieri - Hamrun
Mr Cuschieri said that PN led councils have shown results, yet the council in Hamrun, led by the PL, is not addressing issues. The PL never believed in Local Councils, he added, saying that they did not want these elections to occur. "If it wasn't for the Opposition these elections would not be taking place".
He reminded the public that it was the PN who created local councils.
He said that there are candidates with a vision, determined to get results, adding that they need people's help in the coming elections. "We can make a difference in our localities together".
Rita Mifsud - Nadur
"Dr Busuttil has remained determined to make a difference in people's lives, remaining strong. Over the past two years we have shown that the PN is a party that makes a difference".
She said the PN has always had a clear vision for Malta. She spoke of Gozo, stating that the PL has been using gimmicks to grab votes. A serious vision for Gozo must be based on what the future for Gozo must be. Gozo has always been a priority for the PN. "A forum dedicated to Gozo was set up, where the Party can keep contact with the people".
"The PN has always stuck to its principles and the PN, thanks to Dr Busuttil, such as those issues relating to culture, environment, the democratic process and transparency.
Dorian Sciberras - Iklin
"The PN believes in democracy and that is why they introduced local councils," Dorian Sciberras said.
"We must remember the PL opposed this system of local governance. I believe that the work donce by councils effects the everyday lives of people.
Councillors are an integral part of peoples everyday life. He appealed to the youth, asking them to help the PN make a difference by voting on April 11.
Matthew Paris- Floriana
Someone asked me, "why did I choose the PN?" I said the PN chose me as it has many others. He spoke of the opportunities the PN had given to his generation "and this is the time for my generation to start giving back. There were many who gave their time and worked in order for my generation to have better jobs. He thanked John Camilleri who introduced him to politics, who died six months ago. "Like him, there were many who contributed to the party and the country".
"In less than two years Dr Busuttil managed to visit Floriana twice. "I am saying this as, although Floriana is small, he still took time to visit". He addressed the candidates, telling them to have courage and determination to make a difference in their localities".
Ian Spiteri - Balzan
Mr Spiteri highlighted mistakes made by the present government, asking people to compare them with the mistakes made by the PN during the previous administration.
"People thought that, following the massive electoral loss, Dr Simon Busuttil would adopt the same style of politics. People are noticing that you have taken the long hard road towards achieving their trust, in order to show that you mean business. The Captain of Concordia ran off when his ship was sinking, whereas you worked hard to raise it".
"I want nothing from politics and I don't expect anything from it. I am here to have my voice heard and to see this team reach government in the shortest time possible".