PN programme sustainable and good for the country - Gonzi

The Nationalist Party is putting forward an electoral programme which, for the first time ever in Maltese political history, is totally costed from beginning to end, Lawrence Gonzi said.

Addressing the PN faithful in Qormi as part of the tireless road show around the islands, Gonzi said that the PN electoral programme would shape a safe and secure future for the country. He said the PNM programmes sets it apart from Labour because it was based on building a safe and secure future.

Given a rousing reception in Qormi, PN leader Lawrence Gonzi said the party manifesto set the vision for the next five years because the proposals are "good for the country, sustainable and address the most pressing matters in the country, that is a sound economic base which would enable us to create jobs and distribute wealth equally."

Speaking on the electoral programme which the PN general council approved on Friday, Gonzi highlighted three proposals on pensioners, including the pledge to grant full pensions to persons entitled to foreign service pensions.

The PN leader added that the PN electoral programme would address injustice created by the two-thirds pension scheme, who would start receiving the full pension if the PN is re-elected to government.

He added that pensioners who paid for a private pension would now receive a full pension, along with the state pension and persons entitled to a Treasury Pension would no longer be deducted from the social security pension.

Turning to other allowances, such as persons who lost eligibility to the Widows Pension on remarriage, Gonzi said that the PN ensure that they would be eligible for it.

The introduction of energy night tariffs would benefit everybody, because residences would be paying less for appliances that function all day and all night while other appliances could be used between 10pm and 6am, further reducing energy bills, the Prime Minister said.

He added that industries and business would also incur cheaper utility bills, adding that "the PN is the only party that would reduce energy bills without putting anyone at risk," in reference to the Labour Party's proposal to build huge gas storages in proximity to a power plant.

Speaking on the proposal to hand over computer tablets to students, Gonzi said: "It all depends on the content of the tablet, they could be used as a toy or they could be a tool of further instruction. We are proposing to have all the text books and other resources used in the national curriculum available for free to schoolchildren on these tablets."

Once again we are proposing a tool which will improve the instruction of our children, all the children attending state, church and independent schools."

On explaining the proposal which would allow parents to make use of the sick leave they are entitled to tend to their sick children, Gonzi said: "I am proud to lead a party which puts forward such proposals which benefit our families."