Labour leadership candidates George Abela and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca this morning continued their meetings with different sectors of society.
Dr Abela had a meeting with Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna at their offices in Bieb is-Sultan in Cottonera while Ms Coleiro Preca called on the UHM.
Dr Abela was given a briefing on the activities of the foundation, which now has 2,000 members and 28 employees. It is engaged on 32 projects, including the maintenance of historical sites and regular re-enactments, such as at Fort Ricasoli and the Barrakka saluting battery. Among projects currently in train are the development of a visitors’ centre at Bieb is-Sultan and the organisation of walks along the 9km Cottonera lines, large sections of which are currently inaccessible to the public.
When asked about government assistance, the foundation’s director said assistance came in dribs and drabs. He said assistance needed to become regular, not least because the foundation was maintaining and improving government properties and was contributing to the island’s attractions.
He also pointed out that the foundation’s activities, particularly interactive presentations at historical sites, were being very well received by a growing number of school groups. However the mentality that everything should be free of charge had to end, because everything cost money.
Dr Abela praised the foundation for its enthusiasm and work, including the work of the volunteers. He welcomed the fact that more schoolchildren were being taken on tours of its historical sites, thus being made better aware of the country’s rich past. He agreed that valuable work by NGOs such as this needed to be better recognised by the government, not least through financial assistance, and said there should be a partnership between such NGOs, the government and the private sector, especially that involved in tourism.
Dr Abela called for a stronger legal reference to the environment, including the cultural heritage. The environment, he said, should not be seen as being limited to MEPA.
He promised that as Labour leader, if elected, he would work to give the environment, in its widest sense, more importance in the national agenda.
Ms Coleiro-Preca at her meeting with the officials of the UHM underlined the need for closer social dialogue involving all the social partners, including civil society. Such an approach would make for better integration between economic and social development.
Questioned on the social pact talks, Ms Coleiro-Preca said the Irish model appeared to be a good model upon which one could build in Malta. She was not against the MLP taking part in such talks in the national interest.
She also reiterated her concerns about rising costs and their impact on workers’ purchasing power and insisted that the government should set up a task force to propose measures to ease this problem.
UHM President Gejtu Tanti said that although the MLP had not been present in the first round of social pact talks, the UHM had consulted MLP leader Alfred Sant on the issues. Furthermore the Prime Minister had said he was not against having the opposition involved in the talks as well.
He thanked Ms Coleiro Preca for her visit, saying it was a signal not only of closer consultation between political parties and trade unions,but also a sign of the progress of women in society.