The changes in the shadow Cabinet, announced by Simon Busuttil, are yet another confirmation that the Nationalist Party is on the move. The PN leader has sent a clear message: there are no sacred cows in Pietá.

If we want to earn back the respect of the people then we must work hard and prove that we are worthy of that respect. The hard part comes with changing attitudes, positions and even faces.

However, and contrary to what was expected in some quarters, the changes announced, although radical, did not bring about resentment within the parliamentary group. The opposite in fact happened. The PN group is united more than ever and will be working to prove that we can and will present a sensible and responsible alternative to this government. The past 22 months have shown that the government is labouring hard to retain its large majority by targeting the needs of pockets of the Maltese electorate.

Now, while it might be possible to satisfy the whims and demands of certain elements of society, it is certainly not always possible to do so without damaging the common good or without trespassing over the rights of other pockets of society. Take, for instance, the issue of public sector employment.

The number of public sector employees since the last election increased by close to 3,000. Even if one takes into account the temporary engagement of public transport drivers, the increase is still high.

Clearly, the Labour government is trying to satisfy the demands of those who want a public sector job but, needless to say, this comes with a huge price tag attached to it.

With less money to spend, our retail industry is bound to feel the pinch

Over the past two years, the public sector wage bill increased by €57 million, which is equivalent to nine per cent of the wage bill. To this, one must add the additional cost of running the largest Cabinet in the history of Malta.

Conservative estimates point to an additional €100-million annual expenditure, which equate to half a billion euros over five years.

Where is the money going to come from to make good for this expenditure? It will come from increased taxes and fees and through the reduction or outright discontinuation of a number of schemes that were aimed at helping our industries.

This is happening as we speak. Fees are being raised across the board. Exam fees, notary fees, public transport fees, car licence fees… the list is endless. Not to mention the inflated price of petrol and diesel. This is going to have an effect on our disposable income, on how much money we will have left to buy food, eat in restaurants and buy clothes. With less money to spend, our retail industry is bound to feel the pinch. No wonder then that this country is witnessing the largest drop in retail sales within the European Union.

It is unfortunate that while our economy is doing relatively well, our retail and manufacturing sectors continue to suffer. It is more unfortunate that the government seems to be oblivious to their plight.

A few days ago, the PN identified the political priorities it will tackle throughout this year. One of these priorities is directly related to the areas I will be shadowing.

I have already briefly referred to the high prices we are paying for petrol and diesel. This is not only impacting on the disposable income of our consumers. It is also impacting on the bottom line of our manufacturing companies, especially those that have to transport their goods. The PN will be putting pressure on the government to cut the prices of petrol and diesel in line with the reduction in the international price of oil.

As the spokesman responsible for small businesses, the manufacturing sector, retail, the self-employed and cooperatives, I will be paying particular attention to how the government’s actions and, at times, inaction will be affecting these sectors. I will be meeting up with representatives of these sectors and listening to their objective assessment of what is working and what needs to be improved. I will be voicing their concerns in Parliament.

My door is always open to those who wish to meet up with me and share their ideas on these sectors.

The changes that are happening within the PN are meant to get the party closer to the people. If we are to be effective, then we need to be led by the needs and aspirations of the people we serve.

This is what I have always tried to do and will continue to do in the coming months and years. That will never change.

Robert Arrigo is PN spokesman for SMEs, manufacture, trade, the self-employed and cooperatives