Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that the debate on Enemalta in Parliament tomorrow would enable the government to show how it was making headway in its energy plan.
He also said that the forthcoming Budget would also see the government lay out its plans to further grow the economy while reducing the deficit, rewarding hard work, curbing abuse and keeping its electoral promises.
Speaking in Gozo, Dr Muscat started his address by thanking Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona for his service and his wisdom in serving the Church, ensuring it was present in national debate, without involving itself in partisan politics. He augured that his successor, chosen by the Vatican, would follow in his footsteps.
Turning to Gozo, Dr Muscat said Labour policies to kick off the economy of the sister island were working.
Short term measures had included free trips on the ferries in order to promote business. But longer-term plans were also well underway. This year, visitors would have spent a million bednights in Gozo and new businesses were being attracted, including film-making. Had it not been for government and Film Commission intervention, it was likely that the current film-making would have taken place in Mata, not Gozo, he said.
As for longer term plans, he said studies were being carried out by Grant Thronton and PWC separately on the feasibility of having a grass airstrip for a sustainable fixed wing aircraft service. The decision, he said, had to be backed by environmental considerations.
Turning to general affairs, Dr Muscat said the approval by Parliament last week of a law for the introduction of third pillar pensions was a milestone which the former government only spoke about. What was significant, he said, was that the Opposition had spoken in favour of mandatory second pillar pensions, which would constitute a burden for workers and their employers. The present government, he said, did not feel this was the time for such pensions but it would strengthen the national pension system.
When he spoke about Enemalta, Dr Muscat said the corporation had been in such a state under the former government, that then Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was prepared to sell it for €1. But this government would bring €200 million in investment for it.
This was the governemnt which had reduced energy tariffs for private consumers and would do the same for businesses, while removing the Marsa power station, another promise which the former government did not meet.
Dr Muscat denied that the Petroleum Division had been hived off Enemalta in secret, saying the plans had been announced in Parliament by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.