Kurt Sansone
Labour will not discuss health reform 'unless care stays free'
There will be no discussion with the government on health reform if the principle of free health care for all is not kept, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
He said the reform did not enjoy a parliamentary majority, since more than one government MP was opposed to it.
Jean Pierre Farrugia, a backbencher on the government side, has said he would not vote for the reform bill in its present form, partly on the grounds that the proposed change would bring about charges on medical services which so far have been free.
"It is irrelevant to discuss the details of health reform if we do not agree with the principle it is based upon. The government should remove all reference to any payment for health care and we will sit down and discuss," Dr Muscat said when addressing the party faithful at Notre Dame Gate in Vittoriosa yesterday.
He recalled the pledge made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi before the last general election - that health care would remain free - and said it was a promise the people trusted.
Reacting to the speech, the Health Ministry accused Dr Muscat of twisting facts, insisting it was the government's policy to provide the best health care for free.
The Labour leader said the party would be attending next Sunday's protest organised by 11 unions against the high water and electricity tariffs and urged people to "legitimately and peacefully" make their voice heard.
On the morrow of the protest, Parliament is expected to debate the Labour Party's motion calling for the withdrawal of the legal notice that introduced the higher rates.
"The new tariffs threaten jobs," he said.
Referring to a TVM news report last week which had quoted the Finance Minister saying utility rates had to increase for Malta to avoid Greece's deficit crisis, Dr Muscat said this shot down the government's argument that the bills had to go up because of the price of oil.
"This government has dragged us into an awkward position: we now have a roofless theatre and a bottomless pit for a deficit," he jibed with reference to Renzo Piano's plans to have an open air theatre on the site of the Royal Opera House ruins.
Dr Muscat did not actually declare his party's stand on the Piano plans but insisted the way it had developed was a mess and the Prime Minister was arrogant when he did not listen to what people had to say.
The Prime Minister declared last week that he was willing to discuss Mr Piano's proposals for a roofless theatre with 128 known artists and personalities who have signed a petition opposing the concept.
Turning to the crowd in front of him, Dr Muscat urged Labour supporters to welcome anybody who wanted to form part of the movement of progressives and moderates that was developing around the party.
"We have to be a movement of work that represents all workers, including the self-employed. We do not want to create a rift between investors and employees. We have to work together. This is the meaning of solidarity," he said.
Dr Muscat started off the meeting by congratulating singer Thea Garrett for winning the Malta Eurosong contest the night before.
District MPs Chris Agius, Helena Dalli and Joe Mizzi also addressed the crowd.
The Finance Ministry said Dr Muscat misrepresented what Minister Tonio Fenech said on TV, insisting he had been speaking about the reforms undertaken over the past two years, which saw the government withdrawing subsidies to contain the deficit.
The ministry accused the Labour Party of retaining a belief in subsidies. The government had invested money to save jobs, it added, and had issued a number of schemes to aid companies wanting to invest in alternative energy among others.
The Nationalist Party also criticised Dr Muscat's participation in next Sunday's protest organised by the unions, insisting this was not the right time for such demonstrations.
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g.c.Forte
Feb 23rd 2010, 08:14
@ Joe Vella...Go and look at the books,than you will find who is the architect of our new Malta. Only a sample of what Mintoff have done....AirMalta, SeaMalta, Freeport, MidMed,B.O.V, Factories, Industrial Estates, Hotels,Housing estates,All Bonuses,All social benefits,Equal pay,40 hrsweek annual,sick maternity leave, Free Health scheme, Minimum wage,ect...ect...ect.. These were made in 15 years without the help of the E.U. The domestic computer wasn`t invented. Today living in 2010 we still have blackouts. I am sure that if most of these benefits are not binding by our Constitution the P.N. had already trash them away,like the recent issue regarding the Health. Do you still remember what Mr. Dalli use to say.." Naqtawa din..li kullhadd jibretendi li jiehu kollox b`xejn " Now let me challenge you, to tell me besides all these above, in more than 20 years of the P.N, mention at least 5 NEW issues that have been implemented by P.N. Keep in mind that when the M.L.P. took over in 1971 the financial situation left by the P.N. was horrible.When the P.N. took over in 1986 they found 4 hundred million Malta Liri ( 400,000000.) in the prosperity funds. BIG difference EH..
Joe Vella
Feb 22nd 2010, 18:21
@ g.c. forte "Do you remember what the P.N.use to call Mintoff when he was really taking hard decisions, which after , we had extraordinary result.." May I ask what extraordinary results you are talking about? What wealth did Mintoff created? If it was Mintoff we would be using candles to light up our homes, never mind having computers to correspond with as we are doing right now.
Joe Vella
Feb 22nd 2010, 18:17
@ J. Borg I choose not to respond Mario Gellel for the very reason not to give him a credit. However,since you did, I just want to point out that the figures that Mario Gellel mentioned must have been brought out of a hat. Not to mention, other unfounded allegations that he make art not based on facts but pure imaginary based on unfounded newspaper articles made years ago.
J.Borg
Feb 22nd 2010, 14:21
@mario What is wrong with the project of valletta. When labour wanted to win last elections I recall hearing that alfred sant wanted to fix up the moat round valletta. The 200 million euros are not going to waste why leave our capital city in the state that it is. All black walls and falling apart. Not to mention the tourism it will get, wont that bring us money having tourists coming to Malta to visit our refurbished capital city.
g.c.Forte
Feb 22nd 2010, 13:21
@ James Dimech.........Progress and improvements in life comes when you have a responsible father ( the government ), that what he earn ( our taxes ) will be wisely spent,and not wasting them on stupid projects, especially the Piano`s. Do you remember what the P.N.use to call Mintoff when he was really taking hard decisions, which after , we had extraordinary result..I tell because you either were too young or forgot......They use to call him " Tirann ".what are we going to call this government that he is strangle us, not to give them back to us as social benefits like it use to be during Mintoff era, but to pay the dues ( deficit ) that he and his predecessors done.
Mark Borg
Feb 22nd 2010, 13:13
James Dimech has all the maltese interests at heart. The same can't be said about Dr.Gonzi. You accuse him of pleasing everyone isn't it better than pleasing no-one but yourself. Do you remember all those who were almost forced to pay the car registration had it not been for Dr.Muscat to stick up for them. Yes if Dr.Muscat is guilty of pleasing the Maltese people then he has my vote and support.
Joe Vella
Feb 22nd 2010, 12:37
Perhaps Joseph Muscat and the PL are suffering from amnesia. It was a PL Government that introduced user fees in the Health field in recent memory, and it took a PN Government to remove the same user fees. With the PL it is always the same song. Do as I say and not as I do. In plain English, talk about free Health, and at the first opportunity introduce health fees. That is Joseph Muscat and the PL for you.
Victor Ross
Feb 22nd 2010, 12:32
@ Mario Gellel Greece did not have the guts to carry the reforms and correctional measure our Govt is doing and they are up in trouble.
mario gellel
Feb 22nd 2010, 11:30
Dear PN, is it the right time= to impose on the Maltese families an unti social surcharge on
Utility bills??
To impose a 200% rise on the Gas supply??
To prepare the way to pay for our health care??
To waste 200 million eurose on a unwanted Valletta project??
To impose and build a corrupt power station that will destroy
and safocate the public, which will need to be changed after a
very short time to gas at a much higher price??
To start to dismantle the social benefits, like the Rent
Subsidies???
James Dimech
Feb 22nd 2010, 10:59
Dr Muscat is trying to be everything for everyone and telling everyone what they want to hear. As any responsible parent can tell you, saying "yes" to every whim of your child is damaging to him. Progress and improvements in life come as a result of tough decisions and saying "no" to certain unsustainable expectations which appear nice and attractive at the outset but which are damaging in the long run.
What Muscat is doing is acting like an irresponsible parent