People's sacrifices paying off, but Malta needs to remain cautious, PM says
The sacrifices which the people had been asked to endure over the past 30 months had borne fruit for the country, but in formulating the Budget for next year, the government was wary that the international economic storm was far from over, Lawrence Gonzi said this morning.
The Prime Minister told a political conference that while other countries were making savage cuts to spending, in Malta, the government was spending a record amount in important sectors such as education, health and social benefits.
Just this week, the British government had announced deep spending cuts which would see 500,000 government workers losing their jobs. This, Dr Gonzi said, showed how the economic storms were still there.
The Maltese should be proud with what they had achieved but could not let down their guard. They needed to consolidate what had been achieved and ensure that Malta remained competitive and investors continued to invest here.
At the same time, the government would continue to support job creation, education, health, social benefits, and sectors such as tourism, which this year enjoyed a record year in terms of arrivals.
The challenge for next year, therefore, was for Malta to remain competitive, safeguard jobs and create new ones, Dr Gonzi said.
MALTA OUTPERFORMS COMPETITORS IN TOURISM
Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism Mario de Marco said that in what was still a crisis year for the international economy, Malta had managed to outperform its Mediterranean competitors in tourism. Growth in arrivals in the first eight months of this year was at 12 per cent and Malta had equalled the first eight months of 2008, which was a record year. Indeed, Malta was expected to achieve a new record this year.
In contrast, he observed, growth by the tourism industry in Spain and Cyprus this year had only been in the region of 0.5 per cent.
Malta's success, he said, was not coincidental but followed increased government spending in the sector which had made possible the opening of new air routes, increased spending on publicity and incentives for the sector to continue to invest in the tourism product.
Arrivals this year, Dr de Marco said, were 100,000 more than the same period last year, despite the problems caused by the ash cloud in April.
Spending by tourists had increased by 20%.
Dr de Marco said that it was important that the government maintained its spending in the social sectors, education and health, but that could only happen if the economy was strong, and the tourism sector was making its contribution to this end.
BUDGET DEMANDS SERIOUSNESS
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said the country had avoided falling into the financial problems of neighbouring countries because of the responsible decisions taken in the past.
Tomorrow's Budget too, was be an exercise in seriousness, rather that populist decision. It was important that the government continued to rein in the deficit because not to do so would be irresponsible for future generations, as well as the present one.
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Charmaine Marmara'
Oct 25th 2010, 15:35
The sacrifices which the people had been asked to endure over the past 30 months had borne fruit for the country............what fruit ?? 1.16c ?? and ur right PM we sacrificed , surely not you or anyone else in parliament or the ceo of arms !!!!! u were right for once , WE SACRIFICED, and after tonight we will suffer even more.
J. Mifsud
Oct 24th 2010, 19:17
This article's heading is a classic. For once the PN leader hit the nail on its head.
Yes, true Dr Gonzi, it is the people, the middle class, the lower rank of society that are making sacrifices.
But are sacrifices paying off?
No, Dr Gonzi, these are paying for the rampant tax and VAT evasions. I really hope that tomorrow you do not announce any amnesties for all those who have been evading tax for these last years.
And then who will blame all those that think that being dishonest pays off......................?
Carmel Cilia
Oct 24th 2010, 18:41
It seems election is getting nearer. Dr. Gonzi's tone will start softening soon: This year Sacrifices are paying off. Next year we will start picking the fruit. Dr. Gonzi and company will again try to mesmerise the people election come. However last election we were promised 'par idejn sodi fit tmun and 'finanzi fis sod.three months later everything was turned upside down. B'min tridu tibqu tidhu. Ma tafux tisthu.
reno calleja
Oct 24th 2010, 18:08
I do not think that Prime Minister Gonzi was honest when he made that statement.
The fact is that the pollicies followed by his government have bestowed fabulous wealth on the few while undermining the living standards of the middle class and absolutely crushing the poor.
Pat Hobson
Oct 24th 2010, 16:38
Where were you between 1971 - 1987? Were you in cuckooland?
Free Education
Free Health
Freeport
Airport
ST Microlelectronics
EneMalta
SeaMalta (RIP)
AirMalta
Pension for all
PAYE (someone yesterday mentioned VAT)
and that was only in the first few years of PL administration!
T Camilleri
Oct 24th 2010, 16:15
Dr Gonzi, how about telling the people why you hid that you had already planned ARMS way back so that the tender for the software which is making so many mistakes had been issued in 2006? Why did you hide all this from the people before the general election Dr Gonzi?
http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=114279
Jesmond Mugliett up in ARMS
Joseph Bartolo
Oct 24th 2010, 16:08
Well what can I say. I for one along with another 31 other individuals have work their overtime from 29th of May 2010 to 31stof July 2010 and have not recieved even half of our overtime payment. I wonder if we have run out of money or maybe the MRRA wants us t work for nothing on a Saturday, which by law should be a time and a half.
I sincerely hope that this issue is solved very soon, as our bills and other nesseties need to be paid more promptly that ever. Thank You and I hope that I and my fellow workers get paid for our overtime very soon, ;)
Julia Caruana
Oct 24th 2010, 15:43
Malta had a 4% GDP growth whilst other countries were sinking under huge debts. All this thanks to gonzipn sound policies and the maltese people but certainly not thanks to Joseph's contribution who wasted a whole two years coming up with a stupid emblema
Michael Farrugia
Oct 24th 2010, 15:36
When compared to other countries we are doing miracles here, just look at what is happening in the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Germany, Romania, Cyprus and Holland protests protests protests. And in Malta in less than a month we had the opening of Smart City, the first Easy Jet aeroplane from the SR Technics hangar and the creation of new jobs through new investment.
Mario Azzopardi
Oct 24th 2010, 15:26
The biggest achievement of Joseph Muscat is a new emblem. Gonzi : Lufthansa technik, Smart City, new buses, Mater Dei, etc etc.
MLP is a party of bla bla. When it comes to facts they a found lacking.
John Gatt
Oct 24th 2010, 15:51
Mario Azzopardi who's presently in government?
J. Formosa
Oct 24th 2010, 16:41
well said...this is what people should realise!! workers don't get their pay form emblems and useless pantos done by Joseph and his Lejber.....workers need someone credible like Lawrence Gonzi, even if tal Labour were, are and will always grumble about everything, but that's their poor mentality unfortunately.
Mike Magri
Oct 24th 2010, 18:27
Mario.. Your comparison is completely Irrelevant, as Dr. Muscat, As YET, has never been a prime minister... But i can assure you, that in a FEW years` time he WILL BE... Then Rest Assured that HE will fullfil your curiosity of Dr. Muscat`s abilities, TO THE UTMOST..
Also... All i can say for sure is, that Dr. Muscat has REVIVED the labour party with his courageous changes to the extend that it is now the MOST POPULAR POLITICAL PARTY on these Islands, and GonziPN`s Regime, has sunk his party, and `il-miskina Malta Taghna`,so deeper and deeper in all kinds of corrupt perception practises, as, as the maltese saying goes..`..Il-Qasba mac-Caqcaqx Ghalxejn..`......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A.J.Borg
Oct 24th 2010, 19:01
Mario, you are simply pathetic. Lufthansa technik negotiations took place under labour governent, Smart City is still a ghost town, new buses (where??) apparti l-100million subsidy minn flusna, Mater Dei is a project that saw its inception when Gonzi was a nobody.
You cant compare a government with an Opposition party. One cannot do much from the opposition benches. On a party level, yes, PL is by far more appealing than PN.
M. Spiteri
Oct 25th 2010, 14:15
Dear Mario, compare this: Labour in government: children's allowance, pensions and all the welfare benefits; houses to those who couldn't afford; Free Education; Free Health; Freeport; Airport; ST Microlelectronics; EneMalta; Airmalta (quoting Mr. Pat Hobson too!). Mater Dei dear Mario? hahaha the biggest white elephant in recent history|!
Cristinu Vella
Feb 28th, 10:44
Mario Azzopardi,il gid li ghamel il L.P.ghal Malta fi zmien Dom Mintoff qatt ma is semhuh fi 28 sena Malta imissa saret paradise mhux ergajtu gibtu IT-TALLABA Mario, Joseph Muscat ghadu ma lahaqx prim ministru,imma mhux fil boghod Mario.
Noel Barry
Oct 24th 2010, 15:19
Lill dawk kolla li qed jeqirdu hawn. Kullhadd jeqred li ma nistghux nghixu u kull fejn tmur bhal Waterfront, Mscala, Bugibba, Qawra, Mellieha etc etc, ir restaurants u l-bars kollha mimlijja.
Imbghat issib xi wahda li dejjem ixewwex li mghandix biex tghix u jkolla idejha kolla brazuletti ta deheb u dejjem il coffee mornings. U hekk qed tghamlu intom kollha. Hudu pacenzja u oqghodu ifirhu bl'arma l-gdida ta gelati
monica muscat
Oct 24th 2010, 18:49
Jien ukoll ġbajt nisma dgergier. L-Onor. Prim Ministru għandu rġun. Għalkemm aħna m'aħniex ħażin daqs pajjiżi oħra, ma nistawx inserħu rasna! Illum, jekk niftakar sew, jaħbagħat l'anniversarju tal-GREAT WALL STREET CRASH. Traġedja li swiet ħafna, faqar assolut, suwicidji, u ħwejjeġ oħra tal-biża! Mhux biss kriżi Amerikana, iżda, bħal ma' qed jiġri issa, kaxkret magħħha d-dinja kollha. Il-GWSC qanqlet gwaj ikbar, għaliex il-waqa' ta' l-ekonomija dinjija wasslet għal l-ewwel successi ta' dak li kellu jkun il-flagell ta' l-awropa w id-dinja kollha:
HITLER u N-NAŻIŻMU!
Skużawni jekk l-istorja tiegħi m'hix daqshekk preciża. Imma bejn wieħed u ieħor hemm aħna.
Flok igergru dawn in-nies, aħjar jirringrazzjaw l-Alla li għanna mexxejja għaqlijja. U nitolbu lkoll illi s-sitwazzjoni tmur il-quddiem mhux lura. L-Amerikani kienu ħasbu li ħarġu mir-recessjoni meta faqqat il-krizi kbira tal-Great Wall Street Crash. Għalhekk - nassu w nitolbu. U nħarsu lejn il-futur bil-ħsieb li mirakli ĦADD ma' jgħamel - ALLA BISS.
Adrian Cachia
Oct 24th 2010, 14:31
Ara tehlibix ftit iehor il-baqra Sur Prim Ministru! Ahjar iddur ftit fuq is-servizzi socjali u serq fil-wicc li hawn ghax idejjaqt inhallas ghall-haddiehor.....u nisperaw li il-partit laburista jghinek flok jaghmel il-bsaten fir-roti....idejjaqna nahdmu ghall-haddiehor u inhallsu ghall-haddiehor!!! ghandek klassi ta' nies li hlief jaqilghu f'halqhom minn ghandkom il-politici ma humiex!!
C.Cilia
Oct 24th 2010, 14:23
Gvern tal-mirakli min Gonzi BWSC (Bachelor of Waste Scandals and Corruption).
Mike Magri
Oct 24th 2010, 13:56
"..The sacrifices which the people had been asked to endure over the past 30 months had borne fruit for the country...." says hE......!!! and WE ALL say... BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE Prim.. THAT THEY SURELY AND SAVAGELY HAVE BURNT A BIG FAT HOLE IN OUR POCKETS, to the consequence that we are TALKING TO OURSELVES FOR COMFORT....!!!!!!!!
Hallina trid............ Ghadkom ma xbajtux tippruvaw tghadduna biz-zmien...!!!
Anthoy Mizzi
Oct 24th 2010, 13:36
People's sacrifices paying off,...sure paying off salaries in the region of €85,000 for ARMS CEO.. .... excluding other perks and the €1.16 cost of living weekly increase proposed for next year !
John D. Farrugia
Oct 24th 2010, 14:06
IS=SAGRIGICCJU GHANDU JINGARR MINN KULLHADD!!!! INT U SHABEK €1.16 ZIEDA SE TIEHDU?
TAGHLLEM ISTHI.
Roberta Zammit
Oct 24th 2010, 13:23
Gonzi is perfectly correct. It is the people who are making sacrifices because he awarded himself and his Cabinet A SALARY INCREASE OF LM125 PER WEEK. SHAME AND SHAME AGAIN ON YOU GONZI.
C Cassar
Oct 24th 2010, 14:45
Eh? what's LM125, surely that must have been several years ago since Malta is in the Eurozone and has already been using the Euro for at least 2 years.
Keep up at the back otherwise you'll be left behind.
l fenech
Oct 24th 2010, 12:40
Ilna 25 sena bis sakrificci. Ulied ulidna kibru, u uliedn ukoll.
Joseph Attard
Oct 24th 2010, 12:36
Yes, Minister Fenech, and in the meantime, let's continue spending crazily on ceremonies worth thousands upon thousands of euros on every occasion!
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