PN launch workshops aimed at renewing party’s policies

The Nationalist Party’s policy fora will be launching over 16 workshops covering various subjects in a bid to extend the party’s policies.

Addressing a press conference at the PN’s headquarters, policy fora chairwoman Therese Comodini Cachia and president of the executive Ann Fenech said the PN wanted the general public to be among its policy drafters.

“The PN in government has always provided Malta with a clear vision and policies. It is important for the PN to keep updating its policies and we are now inviting the general public to take part in the workshops which will be held throughout 2015,” Fenech said.

The aim of the workshops is to engage the general public in the PN’s recently launched Policy Fora, as part of the party’s continuing efforts of regeneration and

policy renewal. The workshops are expected to contribute valid ideas to the work of the fora.

Comodini Cachia said no policy could be developed without first understanding the obstacles people faced. “We are inviting the citizens to take part in this process. Creating policies also means that you have to understand the hurdles people face and then create opportunities,” she said.

A separate workshop on foreign affairs will take place.

The conclusions of the year-long project will be presented in a final conference set for end-2015. The conclusions, Comodini Cachia said, will be used to feed the party’s electoral programme and to give direction to the parliamentary group and other party structures.

‘Government avoids fuel questions using scandals’

Both Comodini Cachia and Fenech accused the government of using “scandals” to avoid replying to questions raised by the Opposition on the domestic prices of petrol and diesel.

Asked by journalists present for the conference whether they agreed with statements by PN leader Simon Busuttil that the oil scandal was “a smokescreen” deviating attention from the expensive fuel prices on the market.

“My opinion is that it may be and it may be not [a smokescreen]. But the most pertinent question is that this government, elected on a transparency pledge, is not being transparent. The documents tabled in parliament in connection with the energy deal are devoid of any detail.

“Because this government knows it has a serious transparency problem, it tries to alienate the people,” Fenech said.

MaltaToday on Sunday broke the news that the state-pardoned oil trader George Farrugia was still securing gifts for government officials after 2005.