Not even magicians are as fast as Alfred Sant in coming up with new tricks. His latest, a promise that his party would give a two-month tax holiday if it is returned to power in this month's general election, may well earn him a lot of applause from his own people at mass meetings but will it win him new votes?

I do not think so.

I strongly believe his latest promise will be seen for what it really is, a third-class gimmick. Promising an income tax holiday is quite easy. Managing the island's finances is quite another, as we saw for ourselves when Labour was in government in the short time between 1996 and 1998. This is the same party, mind you, which sought to raise funds by raising the water and electricity rates, remember?

On my part, I see his latest promise as another proof that the Labour Party is now with its back to the wall. Throwing caution to the wind, he and his party simply close both eyes to the island's financial situation and think they are on a stage playing the role of magicians. How would they raise the additional money required to honour their promise if they are elected, by attempting to increase the water and electricity rates again?

Their mind is so set on just winning votes they thought their tax holiday promise would be bought hook, line and sinker.

But the people are not that naive. They know that the Nationalist government had already provided for tax cuts in the last budget. These are of a permanent nature, not just for two months! No wonder that so many organisations and trade unions (except, of course, the General Workers' Union) have already dismissed out of hand Labour's promise as a last-minute gimmick.

So, where does all this leave Dr Sant and his party? Will they come up with new promises in the last few remaining days before the election? Maybe. My feeling is that the people have already made up their minds on how they are going to vote. The country has been on election mode for quite a number of months now and when meeting people privately in their own homes I can see their eagerness to see an end to the present uncertainty. I do not blame them.

The problem with Labour is that they never seem to settle down. What is it that makes them fly against reason most of the time? With good reason, most today equate Labour with uncertainty. We all seek stability and peace of mind so as to be able to make the most of our lives. Even those who are most politically active in society have their own lives to live and when the election is over, they too would want to get on with their lives in a normal manner, as people in most other countries do.

Labour are experts at making promises, but can they promise an environment free of the political tension they so often generate? Right now, they are promising greater uncertainty. When their leader repeatedly declares his party will ignore the will of the majority as expressed in the March 8 referendum, he is promising instability. Stability is based primarily on respect of the people's will and rule of law.

How can Labour expect the electorate to trust it with the administration of the country when it never seems to stop generating uncertainty? For Labour's uncertainty, we in the Nationalist Party are promising stability and a way forward in an enlarged European Union, secure in the knowledge that through membership we can bring about greater economic progress.

Labour represents confusion and uncertainty at a time when the country has before it an opportunity that may well be its most important turning point in its history if it takes it up. There is too much at stake in this election. The truth as I see it is that Labour is as yet unprepared to take over the administration of the country.

No number of tricks ought to keep us from grasping with both hands the opportunities EU membership is presenting to Malta.