'We can climb to the top of the mountain' - PM
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this morning invited his party to study the government’s Vision 2015, launched three years ago when the situation in the country and in the world was different, and see where the country wanted to go in the current situation, giving birth to new opportunities.
The party should also discuss other changes, including on a more inclusive society, the role of women in society and the strengthening of families.
Closing the party's general council which started on Friday, Dr Gonzi said that both parents in many families would have a career in the coming years and although this was important for the country, the family was also important. So the future had to be planned and priorities set.
Dr Gonzi said that for Malta to continue developing, information technology and energy were essential. This was a big challenge.
Theoretically, Malta should not be a successful country – it was small and it lacked resources. But instead of having its back to the wall, it was well respected and successful.
The Prime Minister said that his party would be organising a conference for non politicians in the coming month. This would set out the agenda for the future, putting solidarity at the centre of values.
Earlier, Dr Gonzi referred to the recent events in Parliament and said that the government’s trust in the Opposition leader was this week betrayed with the breach of an agreement about a vote which had to be taken.
He understood that there could be political situations, but when one gave his word and based on that word certain decisions were taken, changing it was unacceptable.
There could not be a situation where matters of grave importance where being debated in the EU while the House in Malta spent seven hours debating the minutes.
The people deserved better and the credibility of politicians was at stake.
All Nationalist MPs, Dr Gonzi said, were there for the benefit of the country and would continue working despite the spokes in the wheels being placed by the opposition.
The Prime Minister asked how long was the Opposition to remain a ‘no’ party. While other countries had ended up with big deficits, Malta remained financially stable and the deficit was brought down from 4.3 per cent to 3.8 per cent at the end of last year. It was in fact one of only two countries in teh EU to end the year with a lower deficit.
The government managed to do this without the help of the opposition, which would have rather left everything as it was.
Dr Gonzi said that contrary to Labour, the PN government did not speak abour a hole but about the mountain it was confident the country could climb to the top.
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Claire Busuttil
May 18th 2010, 19:17
Kemm ghad hawn nies, li jaraw kollox bil lenti tal kulur politiku taghhom......
lisbah haga imma hi li dawk li jaraw bl ahmar, jaraw kollox hazin....u dawk li jaraw bil lenti blu, qishom ghandhom fuq darhom miktub hit me harder wenz.....!!
amazing dal pajjiz!!
Mary Ann Borg
May 16th 2010, 22:21
Charles Massa wrote: 'Meta jkolli aptit nidhaq nisma lil Gonzi jitkllem'
Mela ara kemm dhakt mar-rizultat ta' l-ahhar elezzjoni eh?
Ghadkom ma ndunajtux li ghalxejn tippruvaw tpingu kollox hazin u twaqqghu kollox ghaz zuffjett. Imhatra li kollha mortu dawra sa 'The Point', jew sa Manoel Island dawn l-ahhar xahar. Nispera li Charles Massa beda joghxa bid-dahq waqt xi visita simili.
maria curmi
May 16th 2010, 21:15
'We mps can climb to the top of the mountain' I can see you down there but cannot hear your cries HUNTERS- DOCKYARD WORKERS- SEAMALTA- GO WORKERS- WRANGLER- BORTEX- DENNIN BUT DON'T WORRY ARMS WILL SEND YOU BIGGER BILLS THAT'S FOR SURE
martin camilleri
May 16th 2010, 21:04
Sur PM int detghodu ghidt li ma ghadniex minn xiex nisthu. l ahhar wahda li l-EU issospendiet l-fondi tal-edukazzjoni ma semmejt xejn. Nistghu inkun nafu ghalfejn u minn hu responsabbli . jew ghalik u ghall-shabek misthija ma tafux x inhi?
martin saliba
May 16th 2010, 20:51
Just in case the PM is day dreaming. they climbed everest allready. If not who are " we "?
The ones with cushy jobs ,are those woth minimum wages and hefty bills to pay included ?
C Agius
May 16th 2010, 20:46
Well done Dr. Gonzi! It was a well balanced speech which none the less caused a lot of stomach aches to our friends who grace these columns with their thoughts. Their socialist loving care about our families and children brings to my mine the scenario of intimidation we used to face whenever we protested against the socialist governement: Remember you have families, think twice about protesting or striking etc. Their love was legendary. I for one do not have any doubt, that with labour in government, history will repeat itself. They are already rehearsing the part!
P Grech
May 16th 2010, 20:40
yeh, while leaving the Maltese drowning under the mountain of debt!
lzammit
May 16th 2010, 20:22
When you listen to Dr Lawrence Gonzi talking you quickly realise why the opposition are envious of the PN. They yearn to have an orator with which the PN has always been blessed.....George Borg Olivier, Eddie Fenech Adami and the latest Dr Gonzi. This morning again, he was simply superb.
k.quintano
May 16th 2010, 22:23
mr.zammit, we do not want to hear beautiful speeches from our politicians; we had enough of these. We want this government to deliver especially when it comes to easing the ever increasing electricity bills and keep check on the inflation... something which is not being done.
Manwel Debattista
May 16th 2010, 20:04
Which mountain, the one at maghtab or the one at il-Qortin Gozo both created by a PN Government?
Mary Ann Borg
May 16th 2010, 22:24
No, Mr Debattista. He was referring to the mountain Labour has been trying to climb since 1987 and when it tought it reached it in 96 quickly tumbled all the way down to the bottom, and is still digging.
Manwel Debattista
May 17th 2010, 14:15
Ms Borg, your "mountain" argument is hypothetical, mine is factual. Go and see for yourself.
JOe VELLa
May 16th 2010, 19:29
@Jesmond Abela
You are so write, it is true we have no gold, etc., etc.
Some 25 years ago our Government had GOLD in reserve and money in the bank. Today we have close to 4 BILLION EURO DEJN and rising.
Hu halliena ghax int u uliedek iridu ihalsu.
Ivan Attard
May 16th 2010, 18:58
Fat deal Mr. Prime Minister! Who are you kidding? Is it going to be an 'hallucinatory' mountain climb in the next 3 years only to fall FREE FALL into the abyss once you lose grip on the power you so love (Greece re-visited?)
Go kid your die-hard blue lackeys!
Noel Abela
May 16th 2010, 18:51
Contrary to the PL the PN did not speak about a hole.
Who is Dr Gonzi kidding. If this is so why all this sacrifice. Why these heft Bills, why are we still waiting for the promised Income Tax reductions. If our finances are in such a good state, why wait till the election or is Dr Gonzi thinking that this time round we will forget.
Jason Azzopardi
May 16th 2010, 18:23
typical arrogance from our Prime MInister. Let's all get along and realize the role that an opposition party plays. We all know that policians from both the PN and PL need to grow up, but let's stop acting like a bunch of school children and bullies as well.
Muscat Pat
May 16th 2010, 18:16
This mountain climbing is going to be an other pie in the sky? Its an other miracle cure ( made in America) for Malta's problems , many of which were cooked at Castille?
Marcel Dingli
May 16th 2010, 18:07
Liema muntanja ? il kalvarju ? biex umbghad minghalik issallabna Gonz ! Bhal issa tilghin gia msallbin sieheb.
Peter Borg
May 16th 2010, 18:02
@John Mifsud et al
Just look what you're supporting with your statements Mr Mifsud.
Do you really know which type of hazard we'll all be having on our own doorstep? Just check out this video maybe you'll come to your senses.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owP9ufcP8f0
and while you're at it just read through this document as well.
http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/NTNHeavyOilMar09.pdf
do you really want your family to live with such a persistent threat?
John Mifsud
May 16th 2010, 17:58
A very well done speach dear Prime Minister!
That's what our Island needs not the more of the same of LP!
Kuragg u Visjoni u mhux Dlam u Qtieh il-qalb!
Kp up the good work PN!
P.Cassar
May 16th 2010, 17:57
YES, YOU ARE ALREADY DOING SO
THE TROUBLE IS THAT YOU'RE DOING IT ON OUR BACKS!!!!
Peter Borg
May 16th 2010, 17:57
@Joseph E Briffa et al
Our PM is not being optimistic, he is just negating the evident. Do you really know which type of hazard we'll all be having on our own doorstep? Just check out this video maybe you'll realise what type of optimism we are being faced with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owP9ufcP8f0
and while you're at it just read through this document as well.
http://www.laohamutuk.org/Oil/Power/NTNHeavyOilMar09.pdf
do you really want your family to live with such a persistent threat?
Joseph Cauchi
May 16th 2010, 19:18
@ Peter Borg,
Why don't you compare like with like, please?
Your analogy does not suffice in Malta's case!
JC.
dusty williams
May 16th 2010, 17:54
JIENA NAHSEB IZJED NERQU FLIMKIEN GONZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joseph E Briffa
May 16th 2010, 17:42
Our PM is an optimist; little wonder because the performance of past PN administrations shows that Malta always fared best during a PN administration. Labour, with the exception of the times when Paul Boffa was leader always brought chaos, uncertainty, class hatred, mediocrity, and all the disasters which socialism is able to give. The Socialist idea to take from the rich and give to the poor, Robin Hood style, never works. It only brings more people in the poverty line. Capitalists are always wary to invest during a socialist administration; they are afraid that their factories and means of production will end up nationalised. So socialist do not create jobs; they drag down the middle class to the poor lower classes. This phenomenon happened even in England, and it was only after Margaret Thatcher emasculated the labour unions that England started prospering after WWII. Labour only improved their image when the Kinnocks disappeared. Blair changed Labour and won a landslide in 1997. In Malta, Labour will never come to power unless they change drastically; and this can only be done if the party has a good line-up. The present line-up is at best pathetic, at worst it's ridiculous.
Muscat Pat
May 16th 2010, 20:55
" as the crisis out of which we have not emerged has shown up the failure of totally free market capitalism" How to cope with the crisis ? Keep left, and encourage workers to own their tools and to form cooperatives.... say Profs. Peter Saracino Inglott STOM 2 nd May 2010.
The favourable things which you attributed to Thatcher are not true...she was hated by her own Party, by her own people and eventually her Party lost the compass. The tragedy is that Gonzi copied Thatcher to the letter; privatised the golden inheritance of assets bequeathed by Labour........u gejna fixxa, bid-deficit, bid-dejn u (skond l-Awdituri tal-Mepa u dak Nazzjonali) with a stinking stench of corruption. AS for uliedna. u ulied uliedna.. PN.s legac:.the biggest debt bill in Maltese history!
joe cutajar
May 16th 2010, 17:27
MA emmx alternativa all gonzi l-opozizjoni bla sinsla the best gonzi .forsi 20 sena ohra u ma nafx ta
Joe Fsadni
May 16th 2010, 17:14
'We can climb to the top of the mountain' - PM
What mountain?
Tad-dejn? Ta' l-intolleranza? Tal-gideb?
Liema muntanja?
G. Mangion
May 16th 2010, 18:15
Il Muntanja ta Onesta Politika !!!
Anthony Mizzi
May 16th 2010, 17:13
Hope's it's no a mountain containers of toxic waste from heavy fuel oil ready for export that wll be generated frm the new extension of the Delira Power Station.
laurence schembri
May 16th 2010, 17:01
What Lawrence Gonzi forgot is that David Cameron is the biggest Euro Sceptic in the Conservative Party, given half a chance he will get out of the EU.
C.Gerada
May 16th 2010, 16:57
at first i thought they were going to climb mount everest as a challenge to collect funds for the country...
T Camilleri
May 16th 2010, 16:52
"'We can climb to the top of the mountain' - PM"
No one has yet grasped what the PM means. He is telling us that with all the problems that we have we are going to have to climb not a hill, but a mountain. Prepare yourselves for many more great sacrifices especially at the next budget to make good for the Greek grant and the €350 MILLION which the EU dictated is our share to prop up its useless political currency, the euro.
Hristo Hristov
May 16th 2010, 16:37
I know the majority of Maltese would disagree this statement, but I share my vision with the PM. He is quite right about the theoretical chances of our country in terms of success-they are ignorable, but Malta is a real miracle and is prospering despite them.
In the end we all share common future and we have to do sacrifices and make efforts to face the challenges, which today and tomorrow put us in, as the hard times are not only on a local soil, but elsewhere.
M.Bezzina
May 16th 2010, 16:31
'We can climb to the top of the mountain' - PM
With my own feet but not with yr help, don't forget!!
J Cassar
May 16th 2010, 16:02
Diskors ta' sustanza...compare what the Prime Minister said this morning with what Joseph Muscat said in Fgura...it doesn't take a seasoned political analyst to conclude that Gonzi's speech has substance while Joseph's speech i sthe usual gimmick-theatrical speech we have all grown accustomed to.
Stefan Spiteri
May 16th 2010, 15:56
bla bla bla !!!!!!!!!!get a life will you gonzi u il merhla tiak ;
joe cutajar@ are you liveing in malta or space plz!!!
Joe Grech
May 16th 2010, 15:42
Dear and Hon. P.M.:
- As you know Malta's M.P.s are allowed to have alcoholic drinks before entering Parliament. Cut out this scandalous practice if you really wish to strengthen Parliament!
- Hardly surprising that M.P.s put Party Interests before National Interests!
- Vision 2015 - most Maltese ask YOU: what's that? Just political dreams it seems - seeing that this administration does not really care about the Environment and People's Health. (Refer to your choice of Power Station Extension tender if unconvinced...
- Are you so sure that if ''both parents in many families would have a career in the coming years'' this will benefit the Family? Stop ruining Families to obtain State Finances and to please our E.U. masters!
- Malta is ''well respected'' - despite the shortcomings of our Parliamentarians who say one thing and do another; promise everything before elections (even organising meetings for the discontented) but do not deliver once elected to office;
As to ''organising a conference for non politicians'' this is the kind of sleight of hand for which the P.N. has unfortunately become famous - conferences, conferences...with nothing really tangible resulting.
STOP arbitrarily handing out taxpayer money to disgruntled M.P.s!
james grech
May 16th 2010, 15:33
"The Prime Minister asked how long was the Opposition to remain a ‘no’ party"
This is hilarious and frustrating at the same time.
Frustrating not to the party in opposition, but to Joe Public out there, who knows that the PARTY IN GOVERNMENT is actually the NO PARTY here. Who voted NO for a decrease in the utilities' prices? Who voted NO for a cleaner, healthier and more advanced technology to be used in the Delimara Power Station Extension? I think that the Prime Minister is living a lie and he actually don't know how to say YES. YES to people!!!
Charles Massa
May 16th 2010, 15:32
Meta jkolli aptit nidhaq nisma lil Gonzi jitkllem. Id defecit nizel ghal 3.8 tal GDP bit taxxi li qieghdin inhalsu u mhux ghax hawn xi impiegi li jggeneraw xi attivita ekonomika. Il qaghad li hawn - aktar minn 7600 - huwa l aktat prova. Jekk sejrin daqsekk tajjeb, ghamel elezzjoni forsi ikollok aktar minn nofs siggu fil parlament u ma toqodx twahhal fl oppozizzjoni meta il ligijiet ma jghaddux ghax ma jkollikx maggoranza
john Micallef
May 16th 2010, 15:21
@ Joe Cutajar.
Ghadna f'dan il- limbu f'dal pajjiz habba nies bhalek, b'ghamad politiku. Ahjar il-poplu jara kif ha jghamel forsi xi darba ikollna vera politika sura ta' nies. Mhux politikanti (b'refernza ghal giex nahat) bl-ispaga.
Malta il-politika nishajila bhal meta xi hadd jaqbez f'akwarju tal- pirani. Kulhadd jigdem bicca zghira,ghax la wiehed mil- hafna jiehu gidma hu ukoll, fil- fratemp bicca bicca tkun qed titikel, u tisfa fix-xejn. Safratant int u jien qed inhallsu it-taxxi. Issa ahjar ghax ahna mgharqin u mil- flus li sellifna, ha nisilfu il- Grecja!!
Hemm lista twila ma tispicca qatt ta kazijiet ta dan il-principju ta politika, perezemju ricentament kellna hafna kazi simili!!
Wake up pls!!!!!
JOe VELLa
May 16th 2010, 15:17
Mr. Prim Minister,
I heard your speech this morning, I must say it was a bit too long, to follow word for word all the meaning that you meant.
I truly believe you meant what you said and you only wish good for the nation.
However, if only you care for a moment to put your ear to the ground (as you once said) and hear the cry of the people who just can not keep paying for less into the government coffers and in the end the nation is getting deeper and deeper in dept.
Jesmond Abela
May 16th 2010, 18:15
Mr Vella jekk veru smajt lil PM dalghodu u qied tikteb hekk skuzani nghidlek ma fhimtx xejn u il messag jew ma fhimtux jew qied tilghaba.
Gonzi kien car fi kliemu dalghodu. Il problemi li qedin madwarna iridu inharsu sew lejhom ghax inkella bhal grecja jigrilina. Jekk il familja tieghi qeda fi krizi , nara kif naghmel u noqod attent ghal certu affarijiet u kapricci. U Malta listess haga, familja minghajr rizorsi ta xejn pero dejjem imxiet il qudiem. B"dan kollu la ghadna wage freeze , la sikkar ta cinturin u lanqas 4 day week. Xi whud minnkhom kif tiktbu isna hawn Malta mimlijin bil faham, deheb u zejt.
Ejja nkunu realistici imqarr ghal ftit
J.Borg
May 16th 2010, 19:08
@ Jesmond
Jien nahseb li diga qeding bhal Grecja, imma tal PN qed jaraw kif jahbu jdejhom sakemm tasal l-elezzjoni u jitla il PL u jsib kollox ma wiccu. U wara jamlu kif dejem ghamlu u jwahhlu fil PL fid dizastri kollha!!!!!!!!
joe cutajar
May 16th 2010, 15:00
Thank you Dr.l.gonzi you are great am proud am a p.n. all way,s
Mario Farrugia
May 16th 2010, 15:07
Eh????
Mario Attard
May 16th 2010, 14:59
"The people deserved better and the credibility of politicians was at stake."
The credibility in the 'highest institution' and 'poiliticians' has long been trashed by many citizens. Just look at the number of the 'no vote' party in the last general election. We're talking thousands who didn't bother to waste their time voting for a shameful political system. People are fed up with pre-election, vote-fishing promises, only to discover that nothing really changes except for the very few in the inner circle.
Joe Grima
May 16th 2010, 14:58
Now we know what the Prime s Minsiter meant when he promised a " new way of doing Politics". His are the politics of hallucination. He wants to climb to the top of the mountain in a country with the flattest terrain in the world. This one is a as good as his invitation to the new conservative British Prime Minsitrer, the new administrator Margaret Thatcher's poltical inheritance, to work together to make Europe greater!!!.Even Dr Gonzi's allegorical quotes are misplaced. Forget about the facts. Xbajt tghaffeg Prim?
Mario Ciappara
May 16th 2010, 14:46
Dear Dr. Gonzi,
I think we are moving to the edge of the cliff rather than the top of the mountain especially when it regards family matters. It is true most parents are ending up working both, but to the detriment of the family. Working parents are heavily penalised and made to work more rather than helped by the government to sustain strongly their family.
Recently we tried to register our daughter to the child care Government nursery and to our surprise we were asked to attach our yearly FS3 only to find out that for those working parents whose income exceeds 19000euros which is merely nothing for a family income with both parents working, one has to pay 150euros a month. This is more expensive than sending our daughter to a private nursery! What quality of life does this 19000euro benchmark portray?
Is this one of the ways the government is helping working parents with the upbringing of their family? Taxing them to the limit and making them both work to make ends meet at the detriment of quality time with their family?
This is social discrimination against working parents and their families.
A.J.Borg
May 16th 2010, 14:36
Step 1:
'We can climb to the top of the mountain' - PM
Step 2:
Jump
Mario Farrugia
May 16th 2010, 15:05
A bit cruel, but .... L O L !!!!!!!
Jason Mallia
May 16th 2010, 19:58
Laughing out loud!
We are at the top already:
-HIGHEST utility bills in EU
-HIGHEST number of illegal immigrants (read burden)
-HIGHEST number of power cuts and their frequency
Soon: HIGHEST number of people leaving this hell hole.
leo attard
May 16th 2010, 14:24
some of the things promised for the coming years were promised in the past, therefore we should be enjoying them already. second, couldn't the deficit have been reduced at the expense of those in a position to afford making the sacrifice --- for ex, did it have to be at the expense of higher utilities, the hard-working middle class?..........is it a mountain that we're climbing, or a volcano and we are edging ever closer to the crater.........Babooooooommm!
Anthony Formosa
May 16th 2010, 14:23
Ever since all we hear are mountains and hills to climb, sacrifices, nigbdu habel wiehed, maltemp, mewg kontrina, battalji ebsin, isn't this a bit stressful, I'm tired I can't climb or pull anymore.
EDWIN DE MARCO
May 16th 2010, 14:05
Here's hoping that Marco Cremona & his two friends make it to the real mountain! Kuragg! Flimkien kollox possibbli...
lgalea
May 16th 2010, 14:05
Pity he's not part of the first Maltese Everest team.
Joe Mangion
May 16th 2010, 14:02
The same old song. Who is kidding who? The PM ahould have a look at the poll on The Times website and he will realize who the people are believing. Talking about the top of the mountain, the PM should realise that we are already there. Have a look at the EU statistics on different sectors and you will find the answer. Then have another look at Transparency international and it's worrying enough.
Please choose the reason of your report below: