Voluntary sector controversy should make it stronger - PM

The current controversy regarding the Community Chest Fund and whether or not it should register with the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisation should help keep the voluntary sector strong and accountable, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.

He said during an interview with Karl Gouder that while a level of transparency was required in the sector, it could not be strangled and excessive bureaucracy was wrong.

A balance, he said, had to be sought and achieved.

Following the legal advice of the Attorney General, the Community Chest Fund decided not to enrol under the Voluntary Organisations Act.

But the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations came out saying that the situation rendered redundant the law he was meant to regulate.

Dr Gonzi also spoke on employment saying that very important reforms were carried out last year for the country to progress. The country also continued to attract new investment.

Former shipyard employees had found alternative employment and these were good indicators that the economy was still creating jobs.

Although there were problems, the government was focused on employment and reforms for taxes to be spent in the best possible manner had been carried out.

On education, the Prime Minister said that while there were 14,800 students receiving a stipend in the 2007/08 scholastic year, the number went up to 15,415 in 2008/09 and to 16,056 in 2009/10.

Every cent spent on stipends, he said, was blessed if this encouraged more students to continue studying.

Dr Gonzi said that 87 per cent of students attending Junior Lyceums had decided to continue with post secondary education. This was a very encouraging result.

Moreover, the student population at post secondary level had tripled since 1996.

On female workers, Dr Gonzi said that the number of full time women employees had increased by 1,700, as a result of a scheme introduced which had cost €3.2 million, including €2 million in tax credits.

The government’s priority this year, he said, was to remain employment creation, the defence of jobs and assistance to job creators.

2010, he said, would be a year a year of reflection for the party so that it would update itself to be able to face the challenges ahead.

The Prime Minister said he felt that, on a political level, the Labour Party was losing its soul by trying to please everyone.

"We need an opposition that can take a stand, even if this is not popular," he said.

Malta, he said, urgently needed to invest in essentials. That was why the government was investing in Valletta, tourism zones, roads, infrastructure, waste treatment and energy treatment. All this was part of a chain.