Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech believes that the government has given up on the fight against drugs, and said that it is now fighting against the victims of drug use instead.

Interviewed as part of a political activity in Zebbug, Grech called a White Paper proposing reforms to how drugs cases are being handled “very worrying”, noting that the government had responded to the initial backlash to regulations by noting that it’s a White Paper but had since resorted to the defending the proposals.

“The government is speaking clearly and telling us that it has given up on the fight against drugs.  Instead of fighting against traffickers, it is now fighting victims, youths, society, and our children,” Grech said.

“If we want this society to become stronger, to destroy drug use, to fight drugs, let us speak clearly and not accept this White Paper.  I appeal to the government: withdraw it now. You are fighting against those who are suffering, the victims, and not the traffickers,” he continued.

Speaking about Friday’s farmers protest, Grech said that food security is at the core of the Nationalist Party’s politics, and that basics like this have to be invested in on a daily basis.  He said that the PN recognises the challenges farmers are facing and the need for assistance, but expressed worry that the government is not.

“We have a government which always seeks to change the narrative by lying and taking people for a ride.  This is a government which is always looking for a scapegoat,” he said.

Grech noted that the government is now trying to blame the European Union for what farmers are facing.  “The EU is the best thing to happen to this country in the last 20 years and the Labour Party cannot accept this,” Grech said.

He said that the problem is that Abela is incapable of negotiating the best packages for Malta’s farmers, reflecting their realities through derogations, and had even voted in favour of laws which will damage farming.

“Are you noticing?  This government has had problems with farmers, teachers, nurses, Air Malta’s workers, and a lot of other sectors… and they want you to believe that it’s always someone else’s fault?  It’s the government’s fault because they are not recognising the right priorities and not focusing on the challenges that people are facing,” Grech said.

Asked about the government’s price capping scheme on a select number of essential food items, Grech said that the PN is in favour of every initiative which reduces the burden of the cost of living on people.

However, he said that a wise government would address the issue at source – something which this initiative does not do.

Grech said that the PN had been proposing things like a national fund to help importers and exporters deal with costs that their peers on the mainland would have to deal with for years, but this was never taken up.

“The government does not want to address the problem,” he said.

The PN leader was also asked about remarks made by Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela, who said on Saturday that the country needs a second hospital and that this should be St Luke’s because the population is increased.

“When I heard and saw what he said I wondered where he was in the last years that we have been saying exactly this,” Grech said.

He said that the government has no plan but to simply react to the problems in front of it. “It is caught in its own problems and scandals due to their fraud of hundreds of millions given to Vitals and Steward,” he said.

“We can speak clearly because our hands are not in the filth that this government has created in the last decade,” he added.

Grech said that the health sector requires full investment in the people giving the service: doctors, carers, nurses, and all other works. St Luke’s needs to be rehabilitated back into the health system, Karin Grech Hospital needs to be improved, and a new hospital needs to be built in Gozo.

“But we won’t do like Joseph Muscat and Robert Abela did and agree to give someone hundreds of millions behind your backs only for them to do nothing,” he said. 

Finally, Grech was asked about recent survey results.  He said that there has been an improvement but it is clear that the party still has work to do.

“So instead of getting lost on what to work on, we just need to work around the clock.  That is our commitment,” he said.

“Together we can work and be successful and create success for Malta, for you, and your family,” he concluded.