Politika ta' Solidarjeta`
Biex Malta tikber fl-ewropa hemm bzonn li kulhadd jinduna dwar il-htiega li ghandna niehdu responsabilta sabiex naraw li hadd ma jibqa' lura.
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Maltese youths are spoilt and need to be disciplined - Prof. Aquilina
BUGIBBA, Malta (di-ve news) -- 16 November 2003 1615 CET Updated 1645 CET -- "We must see whether the 15 per cent VAT should be increased and everybody must have the courage to revise it," stated the Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami while closing the Nationalist Party's General Council on Sunday afternoon.
"We must ensure that taxes are being collected in the correct manner and according to the current needs," he continued.
"We need to make a new social pact and dialogue in an objective manner to create wealth in the country," Dr Fenech Adami said. He continued that he is sure that there will be a new impetus within the MCESD.
"The whole country needs to takes decisions and we should be prepared for them," the Prime Minister said.
He referred to the Drydocks agreement and said that the decision was hard on the workers, on the government and on the GWU and added that the reform in the country must continue. Malta is currently going through a difficult period and the government took the tough decisions that were necessary.
"It is true that there is an imbalance in Malta, however one must take into consideration the various projects implemented by the Nationalist government," Dr Fenech Adami said. These include the new airport to attract tourists, a project to improve the water provision and the electricity supply, the digital telephony system, the Freeport and the reconstruction of roads. He asked whether there is anybody who feels that the government should not have invested so many millions of Liri in these projects.
He also mentioned the government's investment in children's education. In 1987, he said 250 persons graduated after reading a course at university. This number has now increased by 10 times to 2,100. Referring to the stipends, he said that in 1988 the government gave Lm1 million to the students while this year the stipends sum rose to Lm7 million.
Now that Malta will be an EU member in 2004, the country has a new need -- to be part of the euro zone, Dr Fenech Adami said. The EU took the step to have one currency and Malta must now be ready to be part of this zone. All the economists in Malta agree that this is an important step to expand the country's economy.
He continued that now that Malta is about to join the EU it is at a "new beginning". The government knew that it had to prepare the country for this new route. He said that for the PN this is a "moment of historical justice".
EU membership does not allow anyone to ignore the country's issues. While saying that the wealth in Malta increased in an extraordinary manner and that the GDP increased by four times, he added that there are new challenges. The manufacturing sector, he said, is facing difficulties as it is now competing in a global market. This challenge is also being faced in the other sectors including tourism. The EU will provide Malta with the possibility to improve its economic growth.
Dr Fenech Adami added that one of the EU's aims is to ensure that its populations improve their way of life and that the union gives importance to workers.
The PN's secretary general Joe Saliba, who also addressed the General Council, said that this is the first time that an MLP secretary general attended such an event organised by the Nationalist Party.
He continued that the PN must understand how the country's society is evolving. Mr Saliba said that no part of the society must be left out and uttered his confidence that the budget will have a social aspect.
The PN's General Council was also addressed by a sociologist -- Prof. Anthony Abela who quoted various data issued by the Eurobarometer. He said that the Maltese youths are the richest when compared to youths in other EU acceding countries and current members. He added that less Maltese youths depend on their parents for their income. While they spend less time in sports activities, reading and domestic chores, they prefer to go to work in their free time to earn some money.
Prof. Aquilina concluded that the Maltese youths are spoilt and they need to be disciplined in order to be able to face the country's challenges.
PN General Conference kicks off at New Dolmen Hotel
BUGIBBA, Malta (di-ve news) - - 14th June 2003 2200CET
The Nationalist Party General Conference held its first session at the New Dolmen Hotel in Bugibba on Friday night.
In a decidedly low key session, several speakers droned out the various positions in the party with regard to European Union membership.
In his speech PN Secretary General Joe Saliba emphasized the important points of the document, 'For Malta to grow in Europe'. He said that he would be keeping the document close to him throughout the coming five years and to keep its principles as paramount in the future.
Amongst the various councilors, Edward Torpiano emphasized the needs of social housing whilst Dr Herebert Messina Ferrante commented at length on the European dream laying ahead. Speakers also included Parliamentary Secretaries, Dr Francis Agius and Dr Edwin Vassallo who voiced quite a hard hitting speech on various issues.
Vassallo said that one cannot decrease the Civil Service and increase authorities as this would not be really creating jobs. He also said that he party should act as a watchdog over government excesses so that the election would not be a difficult issue to confront in four years time.
Tonio Fenech, Dr Joanna Drake and Dr Michael Frendo also addressed the conference. Dr Frendo said that Malta will now have its own agenda and will be part of the decision making process in the European Union.
In his speech, PN Deputy Leader, Dr Lawrence Gonzi thanked all those who participated in the conference workshops and also stated that as a country we are living a historic moment of preparation so that on May 1st 2004 we will be European Union members with full participative rights.
Dr Gonzi also mentioned the Labour Party decision on the EU and said that for yet another time, Dr Fenech Adami's position was vindicated. The PN Deputy Leader also outlined the huge changes that had to take place for the country to conform to EU membership standards.
We must be prepared to grasp all the opportunities that will result with EU membership and at the same time, remain competitive through our own capabilities, insisted Dr. Gonzi. Courage and the ability to make the most out of opportunities in the realities of today said the PN Deputy Leader
The Nationalist Party has changed the country from top to bottom since it was elected to government in 1987 said Dr Gonzi. He mentioned the educational reforms, a political transparency and huge infrastructural developments in the tourism industry, reforms which have transcended the country.
The PN Deputy Leader also outlined the huge increases in private sector employment, an increase of 21,000 since 1986. Dr Gonzi also derided the Labour Party in that it failed in ever sector and enacted measures without a social conscience.
Dr Gonzi also sounded warning signs that if were not realistic enough we had to upgrade our services to be able to compete with economic giants who are paying lower wages. There is a requirement for more flexibility and added incentive to be prepared to face the challenges lying ahead as well as the ones of the present.
The PN Deputy Leader also outlined the reforms taking place at the Drydocks, reforms which are necessary for the country to survive economically. He also mentioned the health, public sector and welfare sectors which also require extensive overhauls.
Concluding, Dr Gonzi said that with courage, realism and determination we will face the challenges of the future in a new European Union.
Jekk tridu kopja tad-dokument tal-Kunsill Generali nistghu nipprovdukom b'kopja online jew stampata.
Il-Kunsill qed isir fil-lukanda New Dolman, Bugibba. Fis-sessjoni tal-Hadd ser jitkellem fl-gheluq il-Prim Ministru Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami.
