PM promotes small enterprise

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday stressed that the Nationalist Party's position on abortion was clear; he was clearly against the introduction of abortion in Malta.

Dr Gonzi said Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika's candidate for the European parliament elections, was the secretary general of the European Greens, which favoured the legalisation of abortion. He said that since Prof. Cassola occupied the position he did then there was a connection between the person and the party he led.

Speaking in Zabbar following a visit to a number of shops in the locality, the Prime Minister denied that the European People's Party (EPP), which PN candidates elected in June's election will join, had voted in favour of abortion.

When the claims about Alternattiva Demokratika and abortion were first made AD chairman Harry Vassallo stressed that the party had always been and would remain against abortion. The party has since initiated criminal action against PN officials and representatives of its media with regard to the abortion claims.

Dr Gonzi said the European Greens were among the smallest parties in the EP and among other things they favoured a tax on tourism.

"One should keep everything in mind when making one's choice," he said.

Dr Gonzi, who was accompanied by a number of EP election candidates, said small and medium sized enterprises were an important sector of the economy. Statistics issued recently showed that in the last five years 2,200 new jobs were created in the sector, especially in small shops.

"The government always believed that SMEs could create employment," he said.

Malta's EU accession meant that a number of products became cheaper because of the lifting of levies. He said prices of some products went down by up to 50 per cent, adding that families were benefiting from cheaper products, which also created an increase in demand.

Dr Gonzi said the PN candidates for the EP elections needed to keep SMEs at the top of their agenda.

EP candidate David Casa said families were benefiting from the drop in prices of everyday needs because of the removal of levies. He described this cut as "extraordinary".

Mr Casa said a number of opportunities were brought about by EU accession, including the creation of work. Over the last weeks the number of people registering for work under part one of the register dropped by 500, he said.