Will you vote for everything to remain the same?

Sure, they are promising you that you’ll practically not pay any taxes. Those who ravaged and pillaged the environment are promising the earth. But scratch beneath the surface, and you’ll see more of the same.

Let’s take the environment and quality of life more generally. The PN and PL are confirming that both are in favour of spring hunting, they favour the contnued occupation of the countryside. Without any hesitation we say that we are against, that we are in favour of a countryside, whatever’s left of it, for the enjoyment of all. Joseph Muscat has promised to decrease fines for illegal hunting, while Simon Busuttil brags that he voted in favour of spring hunting – when in meetings with environmentalists he said the opposite. For us spring hunting must stop.

Have you noticed that neither Labour nor the PN are mentioning Manoel Island? Manoel Island must be taken back and turned into a park. A sorely needed park in the middle of a congested and polluted area. It seems they are wary of stepping on some people’s toes. Again PN and PL fall silent on illegal boathouses in Armier, in l-Ahrax tal-Mellieha, St Thomas Bay and other places. We say without any hesitation, they must be demolished. These same parties make token promises, but the PN government allowed two million square metres of ODZ land to become development zones, while Labour’s record on ODZ is there for all to see. Different government, same sh**.

The PN and PL both agree on the unsustainable, and downright stupid idea of a tunnel between Malta and Gozo. Simon Busuttil wants to start digging right after 3 June. Joseph Muscat wants it ready in seven years. Crazy. They want more pollution, they want more traffic and more congestion. That is their vision. These same people have been promising a fibre optic cable between the islands for years on end and it is still not there. A relatively simple thing to entice investment in Gozo, forgotten and resurrected just before the election. We unequivocally say that this huge project is not sustainable for our country, in economic, social and environmental terms. Fast ferry connections to the major business and office areas of Malta is one solution.

PN and PL both agree to build a car racing track. Muscat wants to shove it down the throats of the residents of Mosta and Ħ’Attard, while Busuttil instead wants it next door to Kirkop and Safi. Given the small size of our country there is no room for any track of this kind in any part of the country. Get real.

And what about our country's institutions? Save for the Office of the Ombudsman and the Auditor, these exist to serve the interests of the government of the day and take orders from the Prime Minister of the day. No checks and balances. We are proposing in our manifesto that Parliament should take back from the government the power to appoint the highest officials of institutions. 

And what about corruption or at least the strong whiffs of it? BWSC. The oil procurement scandal. Mater Dei. Panama and secret companies, set up for God knows what purpose. Nor know where to start. 

In this country there are thousands of honest persons. The system has failed us all. A system designed to serve the interests of PL and PN. The only way to express yourself against this corrupt system is to vote AD. It is a vote for consistency. It is a vote which sends the strongest message possible. Do not let them trick you into believing that they will change things. There are people in the shadows who are ready once again either to continue controlling all state institutions or else to take over once again after a four year break. Today you have an opportunity, you can either strengthen the PL-PN system or else you can vote Green, clean vote.

Ralph Cassar is an AD candidate on the seventh and 11th districts