People able to rise up to challenges - PM

Had the government heeded Alfred Sant's advice over the years, the country would be stranded and stagnating, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Speaking at the Mellieha Nationalist Party club, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, Dr Gonzi said the club was called Dar id-Demokrazija, because democracy was in peril at the time. "Twenty years on, the people are now discussing issues round the table and that sad period of Malta's history has practically been forgotten even though it was not that long ago," he said.

Dr Gonzi said the hallmark of his government was that it listened but then took decisions. "Our decisions are taken in the country's interest and based on confidence in the people's abilities. That makes us significantly different from Labour. We believe in the people, instead of disheartening them. Alfred Sant is proven wrong again and again.

"He used to compare Malta to small fry being swallowed by bigger fish in the EU. But not only are we shoulder to shoulder with other EU leaders in decision-making, but we are making Malta the centre of excellence in IT not just in Europe but worldwide," Dr Gonzi said. On the other hand, the MLP had voted against the SmartCity project, he said.

"Attracting investment means more jobs in many sectors. We want to make Malta the main centre for financial services, in health, education and maritime sectors," Dr Gonzi said.

Dr Gonzi said attracting investment meant the government would have more revenue to use in its budget without having to turn to taxes. Instead of reducing stipends, as the MLP in government had done, the Nationalist government had invested more heavily in education. It was trying to encourage the people to continue to study and, still, the deficit was reduced, he said.

"The Nationalist Party is making its dreams come true. The people are able to rise up to challenges. The government just paves the way, using resources to invest them in things that matter," Dr Gonzi said.

Voluntary groups should not be afraid to knock on the government's door, he added. The government was helping organisations such as the Mellieha sports club and was willing to help others doing valuable work in the community as well.