Joseph Muscat yesterday urged investors to come forward with ideas to create jobs in his first public address as Prime Minister last night.

Speaking to an ecstatic crowd at the Granaries in Floriana, investors were the first group of people Dr Muscat mentioned as he listed the Labour government’s priorities.

“This is a pro-business government,” he insisted to applause, adding the Government would shortly issue a call for an expression of interest for major public projects as outlined in the Labour manifesto.

Thousands thronged the Granaries despite the cold for the meeting to celebrate Labour’s record-breaking victory at the polls last week.

“It has only been a week and it feels like a year but I don’t want to be anywhere else,” he said, thanking the people for the trust shown in the election.

Dr Muscat insisted a Labour government was committed to fix injustices without creating new ones.

He thanked those who voted Labour for the first time and the “soldiers of steel” (a term used to describe those who voted Labour during the 1960s politico-religious battle), who always stood by the party.

Dr Muscat saluted the 39 MPs elected on Labour’s ticket and pledged they will remain close to the people.

He then turned to the crowd and urged them to inform him personally if they felt ministers were being aloof from the people. “I am the guarantor of this Government,” he insisted.

Dr Muscat also reached out to candidates who failed to get elected and promised they will not be forgotten.

To a rousing ending he pledged his government’s full commitment to remain close to the people.

“At last we can say the sun has risen on the day when all Maltese will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Freedom Day, the 40th anniversary of Republic Day and the 50th anniversary of Independence next year,” he said. Dr Muscat specifically mentioned former Nationalist Prime Minister George Borg Olivier and former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff as the fathers of Malta’s nationhood, ending the meeting with the campaign rallying call: “A Malta for all.”

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