Gonzi warns electorate to 'choose carefully'

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the electorate "should be careful in their electoral choices and who they entrust the running of the country to."

Gonzi said this during a recorded interview on the PN's Radio 101, in order to attend mass to celebrate the St Publius feast in Floriana held this morning.

The Prime Minister accused the Labour Party of "gross incompetence" over its motion calling for the resignation of Malta's permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

While categorically stating his opposition to Malta joining NATO, Gonzi lambasted the Opposition for its stand on the Partnership for Peace agreement. "The motion is based on a Wikileak which published documents concerning Malta. The incompetent opposition understood this as a plan for Malta to rejoin Partnership for Peace, when this is not the case," Gonzi said. This, he said was another case of how the opposition harmed Malta's reputation abroad.

Gonzi added that the reported comments made by Labour leader Joseph Muscat to the North Korean ambassador in a secret meeting, also harmed Malta's reputation because Muscat was quoted "defending North Korea's right to test fire a missile, in defiance of the whole world."

In the recorded interview, Gonzi underlined the government's commitment to assist families and business.

He explained that the manufacturing industry was evolving into new sectors such as pharmaceutical and bio-medicals "thanks to the government's efforts."

"This administration created 20,000 jobs in the past four years, despite the difficult economic climate," Gonzi said.

Gonzi also made reference to a new scheme for job creation in Gozo which he said served to create 450 new jobs.

On the government's efforts to assist families, Gonzi said the government's policies encouraged mothers to return to work.

The PN leader said "the government wanted families to have more money in their pockets. The government introduced new tax schemes for families and for pensioners who opted to continue to work, while retaining their pension," he explained.

On the energy bills, the Prime Minister pointed out how the government is spending millions of euros on the energy benefit to ease the cost of electricity and gas for low income families.

Gonzi also spoke on the importance the government gives to education and health and explained that new schools had been built and the schools were now much better equipped than before.

He reterieted his government's commitment to maintain university stipends and said that government spending on stipends was now reaching €23 million every year.

Gonzi said that Labour is making wild promises and asked "where will the money to fund these promises come from? 

He shed his doubts on the feasibility of Labour's promises and asked whether important sectors such as education will be scaled back as a consequence.

On health, Gonzi said his government is committed to keep health services free of charge.