It is becoming a regular confirmation that Labour’s ‘prosperity with a purpose’ policies are proving that official EU statistics perfectly reflect the factual well-being of our families and businesses.
Among the latest news in a long series, the European Commission’s most recent economic forecasts show that, in 2018 and 2019, Malta will see the highest economic growth rate of all EU countries. The EC experts forecast that Malta will have a 5.6 per cent economic growth rate in 2018, and 4.5 per cent in 2019. The forecast for our country is more than double the expected rate for the EU economy in the same period, and more than twice that registered in Malta between 2009 and 2013.
EC experts say they continue to be surprised by the increase in Malta’s national wealth. The report says that “private consumption is expected to become the main driver of growth on the back of strong employment growth, improved consumer confidence and growing disposable income”. The forecast also expects an increase in investment during 2019. Such excellent results and positive outlook are most encouraging but will never encourage us to rest on our laurels but keep up the pace by working harder to sustain such prosperity for future generations to inherit.
Widening democracy further
Alongside our incessant efforts on the economic front, we are committed to securing more civil rights for our people. Widening the democratic platform entails giving more people the right to choose those who will govern the country. The voting age for general elections will be lowered from 18 to 16 under constitutional amendments which are now at a very advanced stage in Parliament and due to be approved on 5 March. It will mean that 16-year-olds will be eligible to vote at general elections and those for the European Parliament.
This is a further step in implementing Labour’s election pledge and it is no surprise that all the political parties agree with these amendments, which should therefore sail through the House. We have listened to endless speeches from the Opposition benches solemnly stating that they too had, years ago, thought of this idea and that they had even scribbled it somewhere before. It is, however, a historic fact that only a Labour government takes such bold decisions and implements them – for others to join in only when they think it is convenient for them to do so. On this count too, the sharp contrast is clearly evident between inertia and assertiveness, between convenience and conviction.
The lowering of the voting age comes on the 70th anniversary of a first Labour government acknowledging the right for women to vote at general elections. Universal suffrage had been granted on a motion moved before the National Assembly by then Labour leader Paul Boffa but it took yet another Labour Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff, to lower the age from 21 to 18 in 1976. The right to vote in local council elections at the age of 16 was granted in 2015 by Dr Joseph Muscat’s first Labour government.
Fruitful Palermo visit
Our economic standing, together with the chequered history and culture of both Malta and Gozo, give us the necessary credentials to meet foreign dignitaries and pride ourselves when visiting European – and world capitals, always duty-bound to speak highly of our nation. Together with colleague Deo Debattista, last week I visited Palermo, where we held several meetings with the city’s administration and community, as well as cultural and business organisations. This official visit coincided with Valletta being the European City of Culture and Palermo holding the title of Italian Capital of Culture for the current year. It would be an understatement to say that both parties felt that, through culture, they could create a tangible collaboration that would also lead to future economic and social success.
Apart from meeting the city’s mayor, Leoluca Orlando, we held meetings with the Palermo Chamber of Commerce, known as Confartigianato Palermo, which brings together small and medium-sized enterprises as well as artisans operating in this Italian city. I explained the current financial and fiscal incentives available to such enterprises in Malta and Gozo and great interest was expressed in further exploring the possibility of expanding Palermo’s business in Malta, Gozo in particular. It is my duty to attract further investment to the island with the aim of providing more employment opportunities for Gozitans in their island home.
Gozo-Malta tunnel
Some good news announced by Transport Malta this week was that, over the past few weeks, samples of rock have been collected from nine boreholes in strategic sites in Malta, Gozo and the channel between the two islands, completing another phase in the geological studies as part of the project for the design of a tunnel between Malta and Gozo.
Samples were collected from up to 200 metres below ground and are now being analysed to determine the condition of the rock, the material below the ground and beneath the sea bed. The outcome of this analysis will be collated, together with the information gathered from the seismic investigations that were carried out earlier, to build a geological model of the area between the islands. This model – which is expected to be completed in the coming months – will be the basis for establishing the conceptual design of the tunnel.
On behalf of the government, Transport Malta is working closely with Norwegian consultants SINTEF, which has extensive experience in tunnelling beneath the seabed. While Geotech SPA excavated to collect the sample, the University of Malta, in collaboration with OGS Trieste, carried out the seismic investigations and are developing the geological model. The Gozo Ministry is closely following all these developments, which confirm the government’s commitment towards the establishing the feasibility of such a mega project – which would eventually relieve Gozitans from the island’s double insularity.
Gozo Regional Carnival
It is carnival time in Gozo this weekend, and to cater for all those who will be crossing over to the island for the festivities, the Gozo Ministry has been preparing a vast programme of popular events. As well as the various performances in the heart of Victoria, several other events will be held in various villages – particularly the popular one in Nadur. Gozo Channel will be running additional trips to cater for the considerable number of visitors who are increasingly choosing Gozo as their destination for such traditional events.
In common with other thematic events, Gozo’s regional carnival adds its social and economic value to the hospitality sector and other businesses on the island. We worked as a team at the Ministry to organise the carnival, which is returning to its natural place – where it has been celebrated by one generation after another – in Independence Square, popularly known as ‘it-Tokk’. It was not an easy decision, but commonsense prevailed over all other issues.
Weather permitting, this year’s programme should be one of the best ever and this is also thanks to the fact that, for the first time, the committee of the Regional Feasts and Culture Department comes under the Tourism Directorate in the Gozo Ministry. This is, in fact, our constant aim – to ensure that Gozo is promoted as a distinct destination during these and other celebrations during the winter months.