Muscat says 'fair society' will be Labour's legacy

The Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this morning said that a new Labour government's legacy will not be that of inaugurating a new parliament but that of carrying out a social revolution in securing the future of disabled persons and social impact assessments on major economic decisions.  

Speaking to Labour Party supporters in B'kara, Muscat explained that Labour will continue holding the current administration responsible for its failed promises on SmartCity.

"7,000 jobs had been promised and so far they have not materialised and GozniPN is solely to blame. A new Labour government will work with the investors to ensure that those jobs were really created. We will encourage investors to invest more in Malta, both before and after the election."

Muscat added that a Labour administration will work hand in hand with foreign investors. He said "We want to flood Malta with jobs."

"This is the message we will convey, create more jobs and attract investment to remain true to the historic mantra, 'Malta first and foremost'."

At the beginning of his address Muscat noted that political parties of today are different to the ones of yesteryear. He said that not only Labour has changed but so did the PN. However he explained that while Labour made one step forward and created a movement, the Nationalist Party made one step backwards and transformed itself into a clique called GonziPN.

Muscat said that being close to the people has helped the movement propose ideas that "we really believe in such as the social impact assessments on major economic decisions to anticipate and eliminate problems."

"We will not carry out projects which are only useful for photo opportunities but we will implement a social revolution and provide disabled persons houses to live in the community."

He said Labour's legacy will not be a new Parliament in Valletta but will be that of providing assurances to parents of disabled persons about the future of their sons and daughters.

The Labour leader also expressed concern over the fact that 450 students chose not to sit for a single 'O' level exam this year. He said that these were 450 "cries for help."

"That is why Labour is promising training and work for all school-leavers, Muscat said.

Speaking about the party's 'youth guarantee' plan he said that a recent vote taken in the European Parliament has shown that GonziPN is the only party that is against such a plan.

On stipends, the leader of the Opposition said a new government will strengthen and guarantee stipends. "While it is very generous with consultants, the Nationalist government does not really believe in the system and this was showed by the revelations that nursing students are earning less."

Muscat also addressed the problems faced by self-employed persons. "It is not acceptable to throw self-employed persons in prison over unpaid VAT. Nobody should avoid paying taxes but what is the country gaining in having self employed in prisons, presented with sky high interest rates which are forcing them to close business. We should be aiding them to create jobs and create wealth," Muscat noted.

On the proposed Corporate Village in Mriehel, Muscat said that instead of creating jobs "some genius" decided to build a corporate village including apartments and offices, "competing with the private sector such as Smart City. The government should create the environment that incentivises the private sector to invest more. This shows the wrong priorities of the government who is more concerned with its ego trips."

He also said the new government will look into reclaiming land at sea as other countries have done. Muscat said the future does not lay in building more in already crammed spaces but to be innovative.

In reference to tomorrow's vote in parliament on the Opposition's motion calling for the resignation of Malta permanent representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana Muscat said Labour would continue to demand accountability.

"A storm was created because we have directed our attention to somebody who has acted as if he was the Prime Minister for the last 25 years.

Muscat added that tomorrow's vote will also be the first vote after the Prime Minister set a benchmark of having clear, unconditional votes in parliament

The activity was also addressed by Labour MP's Owen Bonnici and Anthony Zammit and Msida mayor and PL candidate Clifton Grima.