Sunday, 13th July 2008 - 13:44CET
Muscat urges federation to call off transport strike
Labour leader Joseph Muscat today appealed to the transport federation to call off the public transport strike planned for tomorrow.
It would be the people, not the government, who suffered from such industrial action, Dr Muscat told an MLP activity in Naxxar.
He said he was also appealing to the government to meet the federation for talks.
Dr Muscat said Transport Minister Austin Gatt was inventing when, in a statement, he claimed he was defending monopolies. His record in the European Parliament showed otherwise, Dr Muscat said, and the MLP policy was in favour of liberalisation where the people were not being well served.
It was wrong, however, for the government to be doing things it did not promise in the run-up to the election.
Dr Muscat reiterated that the MLP would be positive whenever it viewed political developments as benefiting Malta.
Such positive developments over the past week including the Prime Minister’s announcement that talks would be held to strengthen democracy, something which the MLP had also called for. Such talks should be based on Parliament but also include other parties and the members of civil society, he said.
Also positive was Malta’s current participation in the EU Mediterranean initiative.
Dr Muscat said the MLP agreed with the call made by the Malta Employers’ Association for the shipyards privatisation process to be handled carefully so that Malta could get the best value for the enterprise. Indeed, the MLP wanted a good future for the dockyard in Malta, Dr Muscat said.
The Labour leader insisted that the government could still reduce excise duty on fuel, thus easing the financial burdens currently being suffered by the people. He said EU rules on this issue will not come into force before late next year, and Italy and France were already pressing for flexibility.
He also referred to a Finance Ministry statement a few days ago and said another EU report showed that the Maltese were no longer the least taxed people in the EU, as claimed.
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Comments
Congratulations!!!!!
After days of repetition through media, through comments and through articles, FINALLY you did it!!! After weeks of criticizing Joseph Muscat without even yourself knowing why, you understood the meaning of Joseph Muscat's successful "New Political Season"!!! WELL DONE DEAR JOE MARTINELLI!! You deserve a round of applause now!!
In fact, Joesph has been practising such political believes from day one he was elected as the Labour Party leader.
Well ... as they say it is never too late to start learning, ey! You are the best current example. Thank you for sharing your experience. Others could follow your example.
Proset Joseph!! Such a good leader!
Considering that at Mosta a road was closed with a platform gave one an indication that a sizeable crowd was expected. Instead people attending were no more than four or five deep.
It's comments such as yours that make people realise how brainwashing really works on certain individuals. Go cleanse yourself and be free.
But wait a minute. What has Joseph been doing for the last few years? An MEP, did I hear? Member of the European Parliament, while his party of which he is now one of the leaders, was still insisting that Partnership had won and that it would have been a better deal? Oh that was before March 8.
Now that Joseph agrees with the liberalization of the transport system he will probably claim ownership of the idea. But I just remembered Minister Austin Gatt saying the same, days ago.
What else do you agree with the NP Government's proposals, Joseph?
One by one the bricks which make up the fence you are sitting on, Joseph are crumbling down and soon you will have nary a brick left to sit on. That's good and we thank you for calling a spade a spade - finally!
Seriously, we have a winning combination at last.
An Opposition which sees merit in the clear thinking of Ministers the likes of Austin Gatt.
Bravo!
Well well well, so first Dr.Muscat never said that he supported monolopies.
Secondly, a minister forming part of the "super new" cabinet states that Dr.Muscat is supporting monolopies.
Thirdly, as soon as Dr.Muscat urges federation to call off transport strike and states that MLP is against monolopies and in favour of liberalisation, some PN activists state that the PN brought Joseph Muscat exactly where he wanted and that PN ministers are super! This is incredible!
Fourth stage: A carnival manifestation started being lead by super ministers followed by their supporters!! wow:)
At this stage, I can only ask the question: Who do not want to change? I think that the answer is quite straight forward and focuses on those who think that they are the only ones who can create an Utopia (a land without problems)in Malta and have the power of perfection, that's what PN stand for Perfect Nation. I would add up an I at the end, so that it becomes Perfect Nation Ironically!
Thou shalt not change a person's name unless s/he decides to.
Your addressing him as "Joe" seems fishy.
Call him whatever - we look at him as OUR EFFICIENT AND PEACEFUL JOSEPH who is changing the dirty politics of Malta into a more civilized one something Eddie and Lawrence were never able to do.
Well done Joseph Muscat!
This sounds like Europe all over again: the Nationalists were right all along! Better late than never.
It's refreshing to have you as opposition leader than Dr No Sant.
But you make it even more obvious that we should have The Real Thing in government - those who were right at the outset on the important issues.
Well done again.
Finally something really positive.
Well done Dr.Muscat.
Yes the people are fed up with monopolies and the people have the right to chose and that people should be consulted especially now the the Party in power has got less than a quota advantage over the Labour party. So Prime Minister and Ministers watch out and understand
that your majority is paper thin and you need, without any shadow of a doubt, to approach the party in Opposition and get its help to strenghten Democracy.
Once again, Dr.Muscat, well done.
Finally some good bananas.
To the
These monopolies where built in the early 70's by a labour govt -so it is more of 30-40 years of monopoly -rather than 20!!
As for Joe Muscat - well I see that he is finally agreeing with the PN on almost everything from public transport to dockyard!! His only problem is that he does not seem to understand anything on basic economics - if govt had to reduce the tax (which is paid per volume nadnot price), the govt has to obtain this tax from some other source i.e. another tax -what shall it be, an increase in VAT -would this be agreeable to the 'new' labour leader?
Please NOTE that both parties have those old timers I'm talking about, where they put their personal and parties agendas before the Maltese population.
What a big difference one miss letter can make in a comment. sorry
@Rodnick Abdilla Here I am. I'm one of those PN supporters who believe that if JOSEPH keeps up what he started in the first few weeks as leader of the opposition. I will support him for PM. It's sound like he is a Maltese leader before he is a MLP leader.
I am going to use a word was used by P.N member JPO "gottardi"
When there is a gesture like this you will never see them talking !!!!!!
Please not that both parties have those old timers I'm talking about, where they put there personal or parties agenda before the Maltese population.
The MLP change will be included in the NP big achievements for our country.
The Labour Party does not support monopolies and agrees with the government that these old monopolies must go. So the Nationalists were right all along. What more of a certificate do we need in support of the fact that we have a good government and that Austin Gatt is a super Minister.
Austin rocks!
AUSTIN GATT BROUGHT JOE MUSCAT EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTED.
NOW THERE'S POLITICAL CONSENSUS FOR LIBERALISATION OF THE TRANSPORT SECTOR.
CARTE BLANCHE FOR AUSTIN GATT!
The general public is fed up with 20 years of transport monopolies left to fester by Government. This breath of freah air is most welcome as Dr Muscat is giving support that can lead to even more tangible reforms.
Yesterday Dr.Muscat urged for consultation to solve the issue in the interest of the whole country. Because of this statement, some comments of people who invented English words (like Balconism!!) gave me the impression that Dr.Muscat and the Labour Party were the ones who created problems in the transport sector. As if the Labour Party is governing this country!! What on earth do you pretend from a party in opposition?? Won't you pretend the Labour Party to stand up and announces "Mia Culpa" for all the problems in this country created by a lack of effecieny and surplus of arrogance from a Nationalist government?
One example of such arrogance is that of having a Minister accusing Dr.Muscat of supporting monolopies,when he never said that!!!