MLP approves electoral manifesto

The Labour Party's electoral manifesto was approved in an extraordinary general conference lasting close to three-and-a-half hours last night.

Many of the delegates who spoke predicted a Labour victory. Several said a new Labour government would be beneficial to Malta, but particularly to Labourites.

Many spoke highly of party leader Alfred Sant, foremost among them John Attard Montalto, who said the Nationalist Party "would love to have someone like him".

The PN had embarked on a campaign "to break our leader", he said. "This makes us unite with him as we believe in his integrity and honesty and we all know how hard working he is. We are obliged to reciprocate the hatred being shown towards him with our love," Dr Attard Montalto said.

Others stressed that Dr Sant "does not mingle with criminals".

"The Nationalist party attacks him and he tells us to be cool and relaxed," Anglu Farrugia said. He said the MLP manifesto contained a clause which would help fight the drug problem because it would help people reveal information, but no pardons would be given to people implicated in drug trafficking.

Most of the salient points of the manifesto appeared in The Times yesterday.

Michael Falzon said there was no need to read the manifesto in detail. People had a clear choice between a socialist government and a PN government "which brings to mind HSBC, Daewoo, the theft of the Caravaggio, drug trafficking and PN big heads".

Dr Falzon said he had remained silent in the face of a lot of criticism about what went on in the counting hall at Ta' Qali as referendum votes were being counted. He questioned why the PBS had requested 92 press passes and thanked counting agents for being calm.

"Even the police thanked us for being cool and relaxed.

"Let us give Malta a big Easter present. A Socialist government with a hundred defects but at least sincere," he said.

Alfred Grixti said the MLP's manifesto had not been drawn up by "political nerds".

Alfred Mifsud said he had predicted the referendum result and was prepared to predict that Labour would win the election.

"Labour is drawing nearer to the biggest win ever. The problem is not winning, but the mountain of work that lies ahead of us," he said.

George Vella said the EU would still be there if Malta did not join.

Both party general secretary Jimmy Magro and Dr Sant said they were convinced that many of the Labourites who had voted yes would go back to the party.

Dr Sant, who received a standing ovation as he was about to start his speech, said the PN and its allies were only interested in the EU and only wanted to speak about EU matters.

"But people are listening to us, not to them. Daewoo, Price Club and Skanska are all symptoms of Eddie Fenech Adami who instead of facing issues, is only interested in Brussels," Dr Sant said.

Dr Sant stressed the party had no magic wand to solve the country's problems. He reiterated that "partnership won" in the referendum, and that he would not sign the accession treaty on April 16. Instead, he would open negotiations on forming a partnership with the EU.

Dr Sant said the MLP would try and conclude negotiations in the shortest time possible.

"If it takes time because the other side would want to take time, we will take long. We can negotiate in just three months or we can take three or four years, but we would not accept raw agreements. Then we would hold a referendum and I am sure that people would vote in favour of partnership," he said.

Dr Sant said that before the conference he had received a letter from one of the health centres which "reflected the frustration" existing in such centres and in the country in general.

The letter, which appeared to be several pages long, said doctors had left the health centres because they were frustrated but were prepared to return, even if it meant losing money, as long as someone was prepared to lend an ear and address the existing problems.