That is the number of people currently out of a job in Malta.  Hard facts show that less than 1,000 are unemployed and that we have the largest number of people in employment ever in our country.  More facts: right now we have 275,000 people in gainful employment, which is 100,000 more workers than the situation obtaining in 2013.

Never in our history as a nation have we had so many people in gainful employment as today.

Malta, under the leadership of the Labour Party, has turned itself into a land of opportunity and the future, despite all challenges, is bright.

Labour is a pro-work party.  It works incessantly to create opportunities and to safeguard the rights of workers.  And that is why those figures, for us who have been giving our all for this beautiful nation of ours to prosper, is the best legacy we can leave behind.

This economic success that we created together has not come about by chance.  Let me take one aspect of the whole picture:  foreign direct investment.  We have attracted a total amount of EUR 300 million thanks to the hard work of Malta Enterprise.  Similarly, the manufacturing industry has moved forward in the last years, as have start-ups, research and development.

Until a few weeks ago I was in charge of the portfolio which, in my view, is the foundation stone for the economic success of Malta of the future: research and innovation.  R&I carries, fantastic potential and STEM areas permeate all the walks of the symbolic economic life.  Similarly the creative economy has amazing room for development and expansion and I have absolutely no doubt that even on this plane we will achieve stronger and better results.

Research, innovation and creativity have talent at their base, heart and core.  Talent does not grow on trees but is the result of a successful educational process, be it in the academic or vocational field.  Through a successful educational process children have the ability to succeed and realise their aspirations and ambitions.

If talent is at the heart of research, innovation and creativity, educators are at the heart of any successful educational voyage.  We boast of a strong team of educators, in public, private and church schools, we in their vast majority go out of their way to be a champion for our children and children’s children. 

The commitment that Labour will improve the conditions of work of educators is a very important one.  As is the commitment that student KGEs and student LSEs will also be receiving payment during their teaching practice.

Within this context, it is pertinent to note that Labour will increase stipends by 15%, which is a very important investment in the talent pool of the future.

Events will of course happen and challenges will of course come in our way.  The difference is that, as Prime Minister Robert Abela aptly stated during his well-received 1st of May speech in Valletta, a Nationalist administration created new burdens for our people, a Labour administration alleviates existing burdens for our people and provides support and assistance.

This is the difference between success and failure. 

While the European block is passing through one of the worst, if not the worst ever, inflationary trend is its existence, we have an inflationary rate which is half that obtaining in the rest of the EU block.  This is the best proof that we have, at the helm, a Government that shields the working population from the effects of inflation.

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At the base of all this success and progress is unity: Labour is a united front.  Unity, in turn, brings stability and an assurance that we are heading towards a better future.

I do not think that I need to dwell too much on the pitiful state which the Party in Opposition is in.  It is anything but a unified front, and, had they been elected to power, their internal problems would have undoubtedly spilled out on a national front causing uncertainty and economic disarray.

Labour, on the other hand, is the part which will keep taking Malta towards a more prosperous tomorrow under the leadership of Prime Minister Robert Abela.

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Next Summer looks to be a very promising one in terms of the holding of artistic and cultural events, after two whole years of sacrifice caused by a global malady which hit right at the heart of social interaction.

Festivals Malta, following the oustanding success of its flagship “Mużika Mużika” Festival, has unveiled four Summer festivals – Ritmu (a rebranding of Għanafest), the Malta International Arts Festival, the Malta Jazz Festival and brand new Malta Dance Festival for June and July 2022.

These are four high quality artistic festivals which will deliver some of the best local and international talent for our audiences.  Of course, those four Festivals will not be presented in isolation: other entities, both public and private, come up with their own artistic festivals/events not to mention the traditional festas which are a fantastic expression of culture which comes straight from the hearts of villages and cities.

This will be a beautiful Summer after two years where the global malady took over our way of life.

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Parliament will be re-opening tomorrow for the new legislature.  Personally, it will be my fourth consecutive legislature having been elected three times from the third district (2008, 2013 and 2022)  and twice from the fifth district (2017 and 2022).

The Chamber will look very different, not only because there will be more members of the House and more from the female sex (thanks to the corrective mechanism), but also because it will not feature some faces from the Opposition benches who in the past years believed themselves to be heroes of some sorts.

I augur to the Parliamentary from both sides of the House.  May the coming legislature be a constructive one where the National interest reigns supreme, second to none.

I recall, when I was still in my first days in the House, I had met Professor Guido de Marco while he was walking in the street.  He had been my Professor of Criminal Law, and a very good one at that, in my student days and as such I had deep respect for him even though we came from opposites sides of the House.  I asked him point blank about Parliamentary life.

“Ahh,” he said, with his typical smile on his face.  “The few good days make up for the large number of ugly ones.”  (Il-ftit mumenti sbieħ ipattu għall-ħafna koroh!).

But truly, with all its ups and downs, Parliament is an extraordinary experience.  I look forward to a fruitful legislature.