Updated: Muscat welcomes GWU task force proposal on the shipyards

Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning welcomed the GWU proposal for the setting up of a task force to discuss the future of Malta Shipyards.

The union on Thursday proposed a task force composed of the government, the MLP and itself.

Dr Muscat at a press conference to mark the first 100 days since the government's re-election, reiterated the MLP's criticism of the way how the government had announced its decision to privatise Malta Shipyards. In so doing it ignored the MLP's offer to help in national issues such as this. Nonetheless, the MLP was still prepared to cooperate in the interest of the nation and the workers, Dr Muscat said.

He said that in its first 100 days the government had had some positives - such as the expansion of the IT component of SmartCity, the collection scheme for separated waste and the decisions to stop the demolition of Broadcasting House and to hold an inquiry into the purchase of school uniforms.

Other positives included the tougher fireworks regulations and PN general secretary Joe Saliba's admission that the government had not given remedies as recommended by the Tribunal for the Investigation of Injustices.

Negative points included the increase in diesel prices and the decision to further raise the power surcharge. Dr Muscat said these decisions were creating harmful uncertainty in the economy. He said the MLP would itself in the coming months issue proposals on how such uncertainties could be eased.

Dr Muscat said that other negatives included the statistics showing that harmful emissions in Malta were on the increase, Malta's membership of Partnership for Peace without consultation and the fact that public appointments had not been made after a public call, as promised by the PN during the electoral campaign.

The government was also procrastinating on its promises to remove the departure tax and change the car registration tax. It also appeared to be back peddling on its promise to reduce income tax.

Dr Muscat said waiting lists for surgeries had increased from 4,500 in 1998 to 8,000 in 2003 and a staggering 18,900 this year.Now Social Policy Minister John Dalli was agreeing with the MLP that the situation was scandalous, Dr Muscat observed.

He reiterated that he was still awaiting a statement by the Prime Minister on the Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

On the resignation of Joe Debono Grech from the MLP, Dr Muscat said this had still not been accepted and he was always welcome back.