Prime Minister Robert Abela has urged the public to take the Covid-19 booster shot.

Speaking during an interview on ONE TV, he addressed a number of points, including the Covid-19 pandemic.

When asked about the vaccine booster shots, the Prime minister said that Malta has come close to normality thanks to the high vaccination rate. He said that although this is quite encouraging, Malta cannot stop here and the Maltese should take the booster dose to maintain this level of normality.

Thanks to a controlled situation, the number of cases present in the ITU has remained stable, the Prime Minister added. He said that when compared to other countries Malta is doing very well, as other European countries have had to implement more restrictions because its citizens refuse to get vaccinated. Abela added that if the Maltese continue to be responsible and follow the guidelines, this new normality can be preserved.

He said that the government has remained consistent in its decisions and the approach it has taken with regards to the pandemic. As an example, he mentioned the new Covid-19 variant. When the government saw that the Omicron variant was scaring many Maltese, it stopped flights coming from affected African countries immediately, to put the Maltese minds at ease, he said.

Prime Minister Robert Abela said that during the pandemic, around 50,000 persons were on the brink of unemployment, but this, he said, did not stop the government from helping these families

Another point touched upon by the Prime Minister was education. He said that there is nothing greater than seeing satisfied parents, nothing greater than education as self-investment.

He said that when it comes to education, the government is obligated to providing equal access and opportunities for everyone. Such opportunities shall lead to opportunities in the workplace.

Education is how families move forward, as youths will have access to better jobs, he said.

When speaking about the workforce, he said that one of the sectors that proved to be indispensable was that of Financial services. He added that it plays an important factor in today's economy and that the future vision for this sector is in line with the one visualized by the labour government.

Speaking about the budget, he said that the European Commission was very pleased and that the Commission confirmed that the plan for economic growth brought forward by the Maltese government was well within reach.

The decriminalisation of cannabis for personal use

When asked why he sought the need to present a bill that decriminalises cannabis for personal use, the Prime Minister said that such a bill is needed as the government's aim is to create a non-judgemental society. He said that when he saw the suffering parents had to go through when seeing their children throwing away their futures because of such a mistake, he had to do something about it.

He added that Malta could not continue to criminalise young people for being in possession of cannabis solely for personal use, as it was ruining their future opportunities. He said that because of the current law, the criminal record of such a person would be destroyed and the chances of finding future employment ruined, rendering all the years spent studying futile.

Robert Abela said that this new bill was drafted with a harm reduction approach mentality. This, he added, is evident in the limitations it has imposed as to the maximum amount a person can be in possession of - 7 grammes.

When the new law will be implemented, those individuals who have been charged with such offences will see such an offence removed from their current criminal records, he said, adding that this will allow such individuals to start with a clean slate.

Abela said the approach taken for such a new bill to be drafted was a fair one, adding that a public consultation took place where 350 individuals gave their contribution.

Abela took aim at the Nationalist Party, saying that the PN at first said that such new legislation was a copy of one they had proposed, where later they took a stance against the said legislation. The Prime Minister said that the only consistent thing about the Nationalist party is their inconsistency when such decisions are taken.

New Rehab Centre for Young drug users

Speaking about the new Rehab Centre for adolescents and young adults in tal-Ibwar, Abela said that a total of €4 million was spent, and €1 million will also be spent yearly on its upkeep. He added that the government felt that there needed to be a specialised centre where young people could receive care while not being mixed with older individuals. This new rehab centre will help such individuals get a new perspective on life and guide them in their job opportunities, he said.

He added that the presence of such a programme will ensure that once its patients finish their programme, they will not go back to the prison, but will be helped back into society where they will be monitored regularly.

He also spoke about the budgetary measures relating to property.

One such measure he referred to states that for properties that have been built for more than 20 years and have been vacant for more than seven years, for properties within the UCA and for new properties built in a style and architecture that is typically and traditionally Maltese, the government will completely remove the capital gains tax and stamp duty on the first €750,000 of the property price.

Another incentive is that first time buyers who buy such properties in Malta will be eligible for up to €15,000 whereas if they opt to buy in Gozo such incentive will be increased to €30,000.