On the right track

In a sense, it is quite amusing to hear the Leader of the Opposition promise a new beginning to the Maltese people if ever elected to government. Amusing because it shows just how much he is out of touch with reality and does not realise how far our country has advanced and transformed itself into a modern European economy.

What our people want from the government is a healthy, secure, prosperous and sustainable future resulting from policy decisions and investments already made and not empty, gimmicky, promises of a new beginning. After all, there is no reason for us to start over as we have already made good progress so far. The task ahead now is to renew our success together.

A new beginning was definitely needed in the late 1980s, after years of a Labour government characterised by no transparency, no rule of law, no accountability and inefficiency, left our country in a very derelict and poor Third World state. Amazingly, the Leader of the Opposition is now proposing these very same characteristics if elected, even though he is still reeling from the Dubai delegation scandal and internal party rifts.

Everyone knows that it was the Nationalist Party that brought transparency, accountability and efficiency back to government. All one has to think of is how this government opened the doors to the University, how this government enacted modern legislation to promote business and attract investment, introduced local councils to bring government decisions closer to the people, and set up institutions to take professional decisions in areas that were previously centrally controlled. And everyone knows that it is the Nationalist Party that still has the vision and the courage to forge ahead with solid exciting strategies for transforming Malta into one of the most modern countries in this region.

The Maltese are not gullible but a mature people who have made wise decisions when called upon to do so and will not be fooled by vague promises of one-off actions. What the people want is a government that is ready to take concrete measures in line with clear policy guidelines that garner beneficial results.

That is what this government has done, is doing and will continue to do. The government's vision is to have a modern economy with high value-added content, based on quality skills that will generate wealth and prosperity and sustain a good standard of living for our people in an environment of peace, security, and justice.

We are confident of the people's abilities and sure of their potential. That is why the government is investing record amounts in the education system to ensure our children will have the right skills to work, be innovative and prosper tomorrow.

The government has managed to modernise our economy which last year attracted over €1.3 billion in foreign investments. Malta is a vibrant economy which is growing stronger day by day. Over the past few years we have managed to significantly reduce our public debt, control inflation and grow our GDP to the extent that we are now on the doorstep of joining the eurozone. We will soon be sharing a single currency with some 360 million people across Europe. However, the Labour Party is still advocating that we are joining too soon.

We have heard this all before. Everyone remembers how the Labour Party was against EU membership and subsequently froze our application to join stating it was not in our interest to do so. Today, we are embarking on major projects and upgrading our infrastructure thanks to EU funding, which for the period 2007-2013 amounts to €855 million.

Our country does not need a new beginning shrouded in empty propaganda and cosmetic changes, but to consolidate, renew and creatively foster what we already have and continue to ensure a society where every person enjoys a proud sense of belonging and a fair share in the country's prosperity and progress.

In today's ever-changing global environment we have managed to restructure our manufacturing sector and have a clear focus on such high value areas as aviation, pharmaceuticals and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The SmartCity deal is further evidence of the wise policy decisions that this government has taken as we seek to become a regional hub in this area.

The government has also taken decisive action in tourism. In spite of heightened competition, it is not afraid to address the challenges facing us and carry out the necessary reforms. Tourism is of fundamental importance to our economic well-being and that is why we are constantly upgrading our facilities and promoting our unique cultural heritage and other attractions overseas.

Through appropriate policies and investment we are offering high-quality health and long-term care services. The opening of the Mater Dei Hospital is another milestone in this area and helps Malta establish itself as a centre of health care in the Mediterranean.

All this and much more has already been achieved without ignoring the social obligations.

As results show, this government is definitely on the right track.