Prime Minister Robert Abela said that he will strongly work to prevent the Nationalist Party from “disturbing the country’s peace”, accusing the party of attempting “to use moments of crisis to try and bring division in the country and create political gain.”

In a Labour Party political event in Xaghra, Gozo on Sunday, Abela, as well as Education Minister Clifton Grima, spoke about the several investments made in Gozo, including a large allocation of funds towards the island from the acquired European Funds package.

Abela said that the PL has always wanted to be open for criticism, and to listen to people’s concerns, instead of closing itself off into a mentality where government is always right, and everyone else is wrong.

He said that the PL is different from the Opposition, whom, he said, believes that it is superior and everything they say is right.

Abela mentioned the pandemic crisis, where critics told government that 50,000 persons would end up with no job. He said that now, Malta has the lowest rate of unemployment in the Eurozone.

He also mentioned another challenge, the FATF greylisting. Abela said that Malta had managed to remove itself form the list in a record time, one which no other country has done.

Abela continued to reiterate that Malta has kept energy prices stable in face of the war in Ukraine.

“In none of these crises did we show weakness, but we also never showed arrogance and were always realistic with the public and kept ourselves on the ground. We continued to improve people’s quality of lives and we were always there for citizens, even if the needs were large,” Abela said.

He accused the PN of using these moments for political and partisan gain. Abela said that the PN can never bring positive change for the country to move forward.

“We can, we can provide what is important for the country to move forward. We will be brave and do it in spirit of national unity. That is what is needed to guarantee serenity, stability and certainty which the country needs to progress. Not the arrogance, lack of direction and stagnation the country had before 2013,” Abela said.

Abela said that following the parliament debate on the historic annulment of the three hospital concessions, and since the sentence is not yet definitive, as there will be an appeal in court which will be handled by three judges, the government will make an appeal to shorten the time period in which the sentence can heard in court, so it is heard in an urgent manner.

“We now have a responsibility on how we will build the road forward for these hospitals. There will be no repetitions of what could have been done better, and we gave the guarantee to workers and patients in these hospitals that their jobs and care will remain,” Abela said.

He said that in this legislature, the building of a new hospital on Gozo will commence.

“Why doesn’t the PN ever mention this?” Abela said.

Abela spoke about the strong incentives given to Gozo, in light of businesses having additional costs and challenges. He said that the Malta Enterprise has given an allocation of more than €17 million in funds towards Gozo.

“Gozo is an economic motor, and government will continue to grant capital investment to the island. Gozo will be at the forefront of the country’s economic growth,” Abela said.

Education Minister Clifton Grima also addressed the event, and several MPs attended, including MEP Cyrus Engerer.