Appreciating and safeguarding artists will be ‘at the front’ of the Nationalist Party’s agenda, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said on Sunday.

Grech, who was interviewed by Luke Azzopardi, was asked for his reaction to Minister of Culture Jose Herrera’s recent comment that the majority of artists are not business-minded, and if the PN plans to make culture and arts one of its priorities.

In response, Grech said that artists are an “essential” aspect of Maltese identity and that they are essential in moving Malta forwards. Education should not only be conceived of as university, MCAST, sixth form or a Master-degree level, Grech said, but should also include critical thinking and creative abilities.

Additionally, art should not be viewed as an extra-curricular activity to accompany attending school, but rather should be viewed as an integral part of the scholastic program.

“What we have in mind is that the artist can not only develop academically, but in every other way possible”, Grech said.

As Prime Minister, Grech said he would “raise the level” of the current Arts Council to ensure that arts is not only regarded as entertainment, but an entity which can help the Maltese artist grow and develop their creative abilities.

He stated that, if the Maltese public believed in the potential of local artists, then Malta could become an influential creative centre that is not only recognized by Mediterranean nations, but also by Europe as a whole.

NGOs and VOs’ legal obligation to pay tax

It is not fair that all non-government organisations and voluntary organisations are subject to a ‘one size fits all’ framework when paying tax, as it will make smaller organisations suffer, Grech said.

Grech was asked for his thoughts on the fact that smaller voluntary organisations, often run by students and volunteers who are fighting for important causes, must pay the same tax as more influential NGOs that may be working alongside politically-exposed individuals who may help the organisation avoid paying tax altogether.

While it is important that NGOs and VOs are subject to laws and regulations, Grech said it is not fair that smaller organisations are struggling financially while others are “abusing” of their position and working with politicians for personal gain.

Asked directly if he believes NGOs and VOs should be paying tax, Grech said that if organisations are getting an income – even if it be a small amount – they should still have a duty to pay tax. He noted, however, that certain services, including consumables, apparatus and, in some cases, VAT, should not be paid for.

Refugees and immigrants

Asked what his position is on the rights of immigrants and refugees, Grech said that the protection of refugees must start by looking at international laws which will lead the way forward in helping those that arrive on Maltese shores.

Simultaneously, the intentions and wishes of refugees should be considered in order to ensure that their needs are quickly met.

“I don’t believe [refugees] are a problem”, he said. “We tend to make them a problem or we look at them as a problem”.

Financing IVF

There is a misconception that In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is available free of charge in Malta, however this is not the case, Grech said.

While treatment in hospital is free of charge, the medicines that one must take alongside the treatment must be acquired through private services and paid out of pocket.

These medicines can cost thousands of euros for every cycle, Grech said.

“We shouldn’t say that IVF is free when it is clearly not”, he said.

As Prime Minister, Grech ensured that the Nationalist Party will guarantee that both hospital treatment and the appropriate medicine is given to patients free of charge.

Couples who have trouble conceiving “face hardships”, Grech said. “Why do they also need to financially struggle”?

Affordable housing

“We need affordable social housing”, Grech stressed when asked about growing prices for property in today’s age.

One’s property is crucial, Grech said, as it is one’s “safe place” to shed all their worries and hassles from the day.

It is a problem that many people nowadays, particularly young people not in a relationship, are unable to acquire this “safe space”.

In addition, Grech said that since 2013, the Labour government have not finished a single apartment block. While the government may have come close to completing blocks, they have never completed an apartment block project in its entirety, Grech said.

Re-opening and refurbishing abandoned property could be a solution to finding more housing, Grech said, however the ultimate solution which will enable youths, adults and entire families to acquire private property of their own is social housing.

“My hope is that we can reach this point soon because youths, couples and families need peace of mind”, he said.

Mental health

Mental health should not be a topic that is pursued once one has a mental health crisis, but should be tackled by educating children on mental health issues, Grech said.

The pandemic has worsened the mental health of many, Grech said, so much so that it can be regarded as “the epidemic of the future”.

He added that more professional help is needed in Malta to safeguard the mental health of Maltese and Gozitan citizens.

Looking at Mount Carmel Hospital, Grech said that more work needs to be done to ensure that patients with mental health issues are not faced with a lack of dignity from being relocated and crammed into other facilities.

He said the issue is close to his heart and he will address it publically in the weeks to come.

The environment

Asked if the climate emergency is the most important issue in the PN’s agenda, Grech said that, while the environment of both Malta and the entire world is of essence, the most important issue in the PN’s agenda is currently mental health.

He added that environment should not simply be conceived of as rural or urban, but also personal. Taking the elderly as an example, Grech said that many elderly cannot go outside at the moment and experience the external environment for themselves, so what is of essence to them is their immediate environment and ensuring that they live in as ideal an environment as possible.