Christian Peregin
Some things never change, Gonzi insists
Malta is economically among the best five or six countries within the EU primarily because the government did not listen to the Labour Party on core issues, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.
Interviewed on Radio 101, Nationalist Party station, Dr Gonzi said Malta was out of the recession whereas countries like Greece and Spain were still in crisis.
The main reason for Malta's stability was that the government chose EU membership, joined the eurozone and implemented crucial reforms, all against the advice of the PL, he said.
Dr Gonzi lambasted the opposition for not changing the substance of its politics and choosing only to focus on cosmetic changes. "Their latest demonstration reminded us of the ugly times. They just change faces and wear masks but the ugliness within remains," he warned.
Dr Gonzi accused the PL of abandoning the country and choosing only to gain political mileage by taking advantage of difficult situations. "This is their tradition. Just because you change the leader, nothing changes," he added.
Dr Gonzi said Malta's unemployment rate was between five and seven per cent, depending on whether one relied on the unemployment registry or EU surveys. Other EU countries had much higher unemployment rates, with Spain and Greece posting rates of 20 and 12 per cent respectively.
Dr Gonzi said his political programme Vision 2015, aimed at transforming Malta into a centre of excellence, was well on track and things were recovering faster than he had initially predicted.
One of the country's biggest problems was that it did not have enough human resources in areas ranging from accounting to teaching but this showed that the economy was growing and demand was on the increase.
The government has focused on removing "wasted subsidies", attracting investment to generate employment and training the workforce.
Malta was quickly becoming a leader in the aviation maintenance industry and in the financial services sector.
Dr Gonzi acknowledged that the government had made mistakes but it had the humility to admit such mistakes, such as when it came to the White Paper on healthcare.
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mario gellel
Mar 15th 2010, 18:26
Ask your Backbenchers if they are living in heaven dear Gonzi. You have just rewarded them each an extra 45,000 euros yearly just to keep their mouths shut, zipped, locked and glued.
J.Borg
Mar 15th 2010, 18:11
The PL till now have never said anything on how they will run Malta if they where in government. All I heard is Joseph Muscat pointing out every single bad thing in Malta just to gain votes.
Lawrence Fenech
Mar 15th 2010, 17:06
Yes Mr. GonziPN looking back 20 years some things never change.
P.Cassar
Mar 15th 2010, 16:54
Yes dear Prime Minister For SOME Malta is with the best five BUT for the REST we are all still very, very far behind, in fact we are being overtaken even by the eastern countries!!!!!
M Cassar
Mar 15th 2010, 13:29
He's right some things never change...Pn rhetoric never changes...everything that is positive is due to Pn, everything that goes wrong is PL's fault or the world's fault, but never their fault.
Dr Gonzi accused the PL of abandoning the country...very ironic indeed..a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
lgalea
Mar 15th 2010, 12:43
Dear Dr Gonzi, don't you think that it is a little bit early for an April 1 joke seeing that it is still 16 days away?
P. Schembri
Mar 15th 2010, 11:39
Quite right, Mr. Prime Minister. Just look in your own backyard. After all the grumbling and earth-shaking statements, your mp's swallowed it hook, line and sinker, and now they have to toe the line, or elsle!!!????
victor caruana
Mar 15th 2010, 11:22
quote: 'Malta is economically among the best five or six countries within the EU'
The PM surely does not know what he is talking about. If we are the best 5 or 6 countries how is it that our generation of wealth/value added/gdp is only 65% of the average. It is a matter of primary school level arithmetic.
Paul Caruana
Mar 15th 2010, 11:01
With all due respect to our hardworking PM, Spain and Greece are in the EU and in the Eurozone....yet they are still in trouble. While I realize his need to try to score political points, it is high time that we stop all this useless posturing, and realize that our EU /Eurozone membership is not some sort of magical solution to all problems.
Mostly, it is up to us, and how we manage our country. Indeed, there have been a number of instances (illegal migration anyone?) where EU solidarity has been, shall we say, less than ideal.
Ramon Casha
Mar 15th 2010, 10:48
"Some things never change, Gonzi insists"
Plans for a roofless theatre for instance