Gone are the days when our relatives used to leave our country in search for new pastures in order to give a better life to their families. High unemployment rates are a thing of the past. Today we are facing a much different kind of reality; employers are having huge difficulties in finding enough manpower in order to meet the demands of their customers.

Malta offers vast opportunities to people with different skill sets. It’s a labour market with employers competing to attract the best of talent. Blue-collar and white-collar employees alike have an abundance of opportunities to progress in their career. This has brought about a different kind of challenge - people are now longing for more family time. Above all families want more opportunities to create memories.

Having developed a sustainable economy, Government will now put a lot of effort in creating more open spaces where individuals from all walks of life can come together and enjoy their free time. With this notion in mind Government has launched the biggest open space project ever to be implemented in Malta; the Malta National Park. It was with great pride that I could accompany the Prime Minister and my colleagues in Government when we announced this new venture before the last MEP and Local Council election in May.

Since then we have made great strides forward with the Public Works Department within the Ministry, having submitted the masterplan for this project to the Planning Authority. Government has just allocated €2 million from the consolidated fund to be dedicated for the first phase of this project. Our families will soon get a glimpse of what awaits them. This project will cater for individuals from all walks of life, for all generations, for all strata of our society. Bike enthusiasts will have a dedicated park. Animal lovers will have ample space to spend time outside with their dogs. Youths will have the freedom to practise their hobbies and favourite sports. Parents can spend more time together with their children enjoying their free time and the elderly can relax enjoying a well-deserved rest following years of tending to the families.

During his budget speech the Prime Minister accentuated on the fact that this country has an infrastructural deficit which this Government has started to address. The country is currently benefitting from the largest investment in its history; and the investment in infrastructure is not solely limited to the road network. This also incorporates capital projects, one of which is the Malta National Park.

We are resolved to implementing this project, and more, because our people deserve nothing less.

 

Ian Borg is the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects