Updated: Muscat takes campaign to Vittoriosa
Photo: Joseph Xuereb
Labour leader Joseph Muscat took the electoral campaign to the Labour stronghold of Vittoriosa this morning.
He was swamped with enthusiastic supporters as he toured the market and spoke to hawkers and customers.
At the end of his visit he briefly explained Labour’s plans to reduce the water and electricity tariffs saying that everyone would benefit from this measure.
Dr Muscat then went to Toly Products, a major manufacturing company.
Video: Matthew MirabelliAt Toly Products, Dr Muscat said Labour believed in the manufacturing industry and more high-end manufacturing companies would be brought to Malta under Labour.
Labour’s energy plan would also increase these companies’ competitiveness.
Company chairman and CEO Andy Gatesy said manufacturers in Malta had costs competitors did not have, such as to import raw materials.
He said that although he could understand that the government had to deal with the recession and policies of the EU “the government also needs to understand our realities.
“If we cannot be competitive we will not win jobs. If we do not win jobs we will not invest, employ or operate from Malta.
“We can find ways of competing through technology but when we have shocks to our systems such as the energy costs more than doubling in the last four years, we will never get these costs back.”
Mr Gatesy noted that Toly had more than just one plant so it could easily shift its work out of Malta.
As a group, he said, it did not stand to lose but Malta would.
Pointing out that he was not politically involved and did not hold a Maltese passport, Mr Gatesy called on his staff is to be optimistic, courageous and not afraid of change.
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Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:56
Joe M. Borg Why doesn't Dr. Gonzi go to Cospicua. ? I am sure he will also be "swamped" by angry residents instead !
Joe M Borg
Jan 8th, 18:22
Eddie. I recall a scene from the past (1998 actually), or a VERY angry person talking to a crowd in Cospicua, calling his predecessor 'traitor'. Do you remember that? About the Switzerland in the Med; Malta moved on, we had a referendum, which those of your kind say was won by Switzerland, and now we, NOT YOU and a few others, are in the EU. You and a few others are still blocked in 2003.
Ray Abela
Jan 8th, 19:04
@! Joe M Borg Yes Malta did move on....Shame you did not......When was the last time you were in Cospicua? A town reminiscent of WW2......And it has been like that for quite some time now! Fancy moving? Let me now, I know someone who may have the perfect little spot for you..seafront and all.....
Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:42
Joe M Borg: Stop fooling yourself about EU funding I have quoted what the EU commission had replied to Prof. Scicluna's question on EU funding. If Malta was still an independent country outside the EU bujt with a special relationship agreement, we could have funded restoration projects by the mon ey we have paid to the EU. And to Greece. And the €1,500 million we have guaranteed to save euro !
Joe M Borg
Jan 8th, 17:09
So nice of Joseph to go to Vittoriosa. I'm sure he appreciated the big PN project of restauration to the city walls, mostly done by U funding. Did he recall all he had said about the EU not being good for us? Did he tell the people he met there, that had it been for him, the walls would STILL be crumbling? I think he was too excited to recall!
Colin Camilleri
Jan 8th, 17:00
What utter rubbish! PN cohorts stoop so low as to criticize Labour on the poor choice of their ties' colours! You really are scraping the pits now....
vincent Lia
Jan 8th, 17:30
It seems that you are too blind to see the point. I will explain. Labour cannot work, so they are copying the PN, down to the colour of the tie. Same as Tony Blair did with new labour. He managed to win three elections before the disastrous copy cat policies failed and ruined the UK economy and left all to Gordon Brown. That is how pathetic PL can get to deceive the voters.
Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:44
Vincent LIa: You say " labour cannot work". And today the PL gave a lesson to GonziPN on how to reduce electricity tariffs. And this plan has already been welcomed by a number of industrialists !
S Micallef
Jan 8th, 18:19
@ Colin Camilleri I am not an PN cohort, neither do I sympathise with the disastrous government we have. But come on, you have to admit that Labour's sudden love of blue is silly & pathetic!
Joe M Borg
Jan 8th, 18:27
Eddie The 'lesson' is ONLY on paper, like VAT was ONLY on paper in 1996! When put into practice PL way, VAT removal was such a success, that he introduced CET and 33 taxes. The VAT 'plan' was 'welcomed' by ALL businesses, and some even made carcades dragging their cash registers behind. Pity they trusted PL, as they had to buy a new cash register! Trust PL, and you suffer!
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Jan 8th, 16:56
Perhaps Joseph possesses an amazing technicolor color dreamcoat and rightfully dreams of a better united national future . Perhaps even Martinelli will join us in singing "Joseph all the time" with the famous lyrical lines. "Joseph knew by this his brothers now were honest men / The time had come at last to reunite them all again "|
J Cauchi
Jan 8th, 16:49
Well dobe Joseph. Up to yesterday I was undecided wether to vote or not. Now I will be voting for all PL candidates in the 5th District, except for one.
J Martinelli
Jan 8th, 13:49
Not involved in politics?
Told employees not to be afraid of change? Hmm...
The less said by the CEO the better for his company.
A.Felix Busuttil
Jan 8th, 15:29
is this a blackmail? do you think Mr Gatsey is afraid of your treats. after all his money is involved not yours
Henry J Bonett
Jan 8th, 16:47
I would have said ''the less paid for electricity the better for his company and Malta and its workers.''
Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:48
J Martinelli: You remind me of the time when the PN , then in opposition , had urged foreign entrepreneurs to leave Malta and advised German entrepreneurs not to come and invest in Malta ! Shame on you !
A Cachia
Jan 8th, 13:11
Again the PL started their campaign with a bang...will they manage to keep their energy throughout all the campaign?
Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:49
A Cachia. Dr. Muscat's energy will INCREASE as 9 March draws near !
S Micallef
Jan 8th, 18:32
Seems like Eddy Privitera is clearly one of those who will be benefitting or has benefitted in the past under a labour Government. For us who neither benefit nor get pats on the back from either Party, it doesn't matter who wins the election. We just sit back and laugh at people like Eddy who blindly support one party or the other and aren't able to look at things impartially. Oh well!
S Micallef
Jan 8th, 18:32
Seems like Eddy Privitera is clearly one of those who will be benefitting or has benefitted in the past under a labour Government. For us who neither benefit nor get pats on the back from either Party, it doesn't matter who wins the election. We just sit back and laugh at people like Eddy who blindly support one party or the other and aren't able to look at things impartially. Oh well!
S Micallef
Jan 8th, 11:58
Will Labour stop using blue? Do they actually think people will vote for them because they are suddenly wearing blue ties and speaking in front of blue backgrounds?
B. Cassar
Jan 8th, 12:48
Lol please tell us you 're not serious.
Now you 're noticing his tie as well ? pretty fancy no ?
You made my day!
Ms Mari Bor
Jan 8th, 12:50
but, how low can you go?
Clinton Gatter
Jan 8th, 13:37
Using Blue tie?
PN had several years in the Maltese government and did he change anything to solar or wind energy?
When was he planning to do so?
when we're dead by heavy fuel oil?
Don't you realise that gas is much less expensive and Less pollution?
I thinks now it's time to stop listening to certain people saying "Nafu li ghamilna zballji, nammetuhom!" No it's time to change. Malta taghna wkol
J Martinelli
Jan 8th, 13:54
@ Bor & Cassar
It is not the colour of Joseph's tie, it is what the LP suddenly became ashamed of - its true colours!
It may change colours but their Socialist policies which brought the country to the brink of economic collapse are still in place and may be implemented again should the old-timers find themselves in Joseph's oversized Cabinet. That possibility is frightening.
Therese Palmer
Jan 8th, 14:57
is it me or is his background not blue?? come on people who will vote for PL will vote cos they truly believe its proposals not according to background or tie he is wearing lol
T Mifsud
Jan 8th, 15:06
Labour won't stop using blue.... because they are ashamed of the RED and it scares the very people Labour are trying to attract. The pale blue. Hence his tie. In other words Labour will come to government under a Nationalist Agenda!
S Micallef
Jan 8th, 15:19
Unlike the others that commented T Mifsud was the only one that understood my comment. And by no means am I a fan of or approve of PN and the current government. But fact remains PL's use of colour blue is pathetic.
MT Caruana
Jan 8th, 15:57
@S Micallef
Actually people will vote for PL for blue sky.
Jonathan Brimmer
Jan 8th, 16:07
No. People will vote Labour because of its policies, such as the one announced today and which is being lauded by the industry.
Matthew James Smith
Jan 8th, 17:07
@S MICALLEF - Without wanting to sound comic in my post - He is standing against a privately branded-backdrop which features luxury retailer DIOR, among others (presumably a product related to Toly) Surely you should be directing your comment to the deceased Mr Christian Dior? ...and as for the blue - its a colour that would accentuate his light features and blue eyes , no? Tajba hehe
Joe M Borg
Jan 8th, 17:14
Mr Brimmer. The last time industry and businesses voted PL to power, was because their gimmick about removing VAT. They were so sorry to have trusted them, that after ONLY 22 months, they voted them out of office. And they have been out ever since. Why should you trust them now, when they have many faces from that regime?
Eddy Privitera
Jan 8th, 17:51
S. Micallef; Has GonziPN a monopoly on the colour blue ? Why don't you start using a red background if you believe that the colour attracts voters from the other side ?
Please choose the reason of your report below: