Creating strategy where policy was unheard of - Muscat

Strategy is the name of the game when it comes to oil exploration, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat held during a radio interview this morning.

Talking to ONE journalist Brandon Pisani, the Prime Minister explained how a 40-year saga over oil explorations is now being addressed by bilateral talks with Libya and Italy. This is another aspect of the energy policy the current government is enacting, after inheriting an abandoned energy sector, Muscat said. The new government is doing what the PN failed to do in 25 years.

The price of fuel was always a weighing stone around the neck of the local economy, and the newly signed agreement with Libya will alleviate this burden. The government is on track to keeping his pledge of reducing utility bills by March 2014.

The Prime Minister argued that the government is taking steps to rescue Enemalta from its current decrepit situation of €800 million debts. These debts directly endanger the Maltese economy and the labour market as it affects the country's credit rating, Muscat said. The question of what is the way ahead with Enemalta, is always raised during meetings with credit rating agencies.

When accessing power in March this year, PL found no future plans for Enemalta. Had PN won the election; the most probable solution to address the Enemalta debt would have been to further increase utility bills.

Muscat's personal opinion as an observer of the Opposition, leads the PL leader to conclude that Simon Busuttil is not in control of his own party. The continuous defence of people involved in the mismanagement of oil procurement raises concerns on the way the party is being run. The investigations of the Public Accounts Committee have resulted that until 2011 there was no policy for oil procurement.

"How can someone say he knows the way forward when there is no policy? Why did TOTSA win nine of 11 tenders even when they were not always the cheapest or the best bidders? How were bids accessed without an official request from MITA and why?" Muscat asked.  These questions and other facts emanating from the PAC, such as minutes kept in scribbles should be included in further police investigations of the oil procurement scandal.

The Prime Minister will next week be travelling to China for bilateral meetings. "The Chinese nation respects the Maltese government for being one of the first to acknowledge the potentials of the Chinese people", Muscat said. He went on to explain how former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff had officially visited China even before US President Nixon. "While other countries passed derogatory remarks about the Chinese, Malta reached agreements which gave us a historical inheritance. Malta has to build on this inheritance, turning China into Malta's link with the Eastern shores" the Prime Minister said.

The government's international relations' puzzle in falling in place, Muscat held, describing how Malta is weaving webs with countries all over the world in a bid to attract foreign investment. "I do not consider relations with Europe as foreign relation but as part of our home policy", Muscat said, continuing that Malta should harvest the trust it receives from other countries and convert it into foreign investment.

In last week's visit to Ukraine, the government signed a mutual agreement regarding tax payments.  Bilateral talks between the two countries also included the possibility that airplanes and helicopters owned by the Antonov airline will be repaired in Malta.

Meanwhile Malta has accepted the request of the US Government to base the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, in the country. The role of the institute is to offer personnel training to those working in the judiciary of countries in transition.

Talks with Israel, a country at the forefront of innovation, have resulted in Dr Muscat being the first Maltese Prime Minister to visit the Israeli soil.

The aim of the public transport is to have a service with is efficient and on time. The current service is unreliable, servicing secondary roads giving the idea that the service is extended all over the country however it takes an illogical length of time to travel between main destinations.

Pulling the bendy busses off our roads has brought with it letters of appreciation from residents who witnessed less traffic on the streets, Muscat said. The Prime Minister argued how the government will not accept certifications issued by Arriva or local authorities but will only acknowledge certificates issued by international bodies.

Having different price tags for bus tickets issued to locals and foreigners is a discriminatory measure endorsed by the former government, Muscat said. When he looked into the ticketing structure the Prime Minister found that little communication was exchanged with the EU over this matter. He argued that he is not satisfied with the current situation and considers it a discriminatory measure aimed to make "a quick buck" off foreigners. This has a negative impact on tourists and on the EU's perception of Malta.

Malta has registered the second highest growth in economy and the tourism sector has again clocked a record for incoming tourism. However the country should adopt news ways and measures to ensure that Malta is kept clean, particularly in tourist areas such as St Julian's, Paceville, Bugibba abd St paul's Bay.

Being on the doorstep of PL's first budget, Muscat said that no surprises should be accepted in the forthcoming budget. Budget 2014 will include the promised cuts in utility bills, measures to strengthen the labour force and new health policies particularly regarding the Pharmacy of Your Choice.