Sant says budget detached from reality

The Labour Party will on Monday present a reaction to the budget that will address the concerns of the people, contrary to the budget itself which was detached from the reality of Maltese citizens, Labour Leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Dr Sant was speaking after a walkabout at the Vittoriosa market (picture), which was the first in a series of similar encounters that Labour will be holding with people before next Monday's presentation. Some of the meetings will not be open to the press. They will be held under the slogan Close To The People.

"This budget does not provide any solutions to the problems which concern Maltese families," he said.

He said that as he walked about, people from all walks of life, but mainly from the working class, expressed their concern at the growing inflation, rise in utility bills and the general uncertainty which surrounds their employment or that of the breadwinner in their family.

This sense of uncertainty has been amplified with the power surcharge and fuel prices hikes, he said. "Many people fear the increases will in turn cost them their job."

Asked about the Prime Minister's scathing criticism on Monday that the Labour Party had failed to give any feedback to the government on the pre-budget document or the pensions White Paper, Dr Sant said that the government ignores and even ridicules valid suggestions made by the opposition.

He mentioned Labour's insistence that Enemalta should hedge on its oil supplies, saying that had the government listened to that advice rather than make fun of it, Malta would not be facing the problems it has right now.