The government will not allow Labour to rewrite history by painting the 1970s and 1980s as the ‘glory days’ when they were in fact shameful years for the country.
Addressing supporters at the party’s Birkirkara club, Dr Gonzi recalled that under those Labour years the government’s employment strategy was to create corps under military discipline, import restrictions, restrictions on colour televisions, the fear of walking around with the PN newspaper and the fear of being arrested and not knowing whether the person will come out alive from prison.
Dr Gonzi was referring to statements about the social reforms undertaken by successive Labour administrations in the 1970s made this week at the PL’s general conference.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s positive economic track record at a time when other countries saw their unemployment rise.
The government, he said, opted to protect jobs rather than increase wages and lower electricity bills.
The Prime Minister referred to the the Labour leader’s declaration that Malta should take advantage of instability in North Africa to attract more tourists.
He again condemned Dr Muscat’s comments saying they showed a lack of understanding of what was the country’s best interest.
Dr Gonzi hoped that the aspirations of the Egyptian people be met without further loss of life.
In a brief reference to divorce, Dr Gonzi said that the party had to take a stand on the issue because it had a conscience of its own.
Health Minister Joe Cassar, who also addressed the meeting, appealed for a sensitive approach when the issue of assisted procreation and IVF is debated.
“We are dealing with infertile couples and every decision they take has to be respected,” he said.
He reiterated his stand that Malta should go for egg freezing, which had no ethical problems linked to it.
“For me life starts at conception and an embryo is a human life. The problem is not freezing embryos but what happens to them when they are unwanted.
“We have to be courageous irrespective of what is being done in other countries. We are a unique country with its own culture and values and so if we can resort to science that does not create ethical problems it is better,” Dr Cassar said.
He said that agreement was recently reached with the Italian government to have Maltese cancer patients treated at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan.
Parliamentary assistant Franco Debono also addressed the meeting.