How will it benefit the common good? How will it lift the weakest? How will it lead to sustainable growth? How will it strengthen our society as a whole? If I’m elected leader of the Nationalist Party these will be the questions I want the party to answer before putting forward any policy proposal.
Our political manifesto will be built around the dignity of each and every one of us.
We will build an economy that our country can sustain on the long-term. A quick cash-in to help us win the next round of elections will not lead the country far. We must put in place instead a strategy that enables our people to move forward the economy and where the economy works for the many and not the few.
The PN under my helm will be focused on creating an inclusive economy. An economy built on the concept of solidarity so that no one is ever left behind. An economy that reaches pensioners as much as it reaches our grandchildren. An economy that works for all.
I want the PN to build an economy where every individual can reach his or her potential, whether they are employers or employees, new graduates or skilled workers looking for new challenges. The PN was always a business-friendly party and we must remain so.
Yet, let’s make it clear: we will not be friendly with any business seeking profits at the expense of workers’ rights, equality, standards and dignity.
I want a future Nationalist government to let the private sector prosper and not to compete with it. Seeing Labour draining resources from the private sector by shifting hundreds, possibly thousands, of people to the public payroll on the eve of the last election pains me.
A future Nationalist government under my helm will ensure that the public service works efficiently and is constantly well-resourced. Yet, we will not spend one cent more than we actually need. An irresponsible and unsustainable wave of public service recruitments means less money for our health system, less money for our education system and less money for social services.
A future Nationalist government will attract foreign investment through our reputation, and not ruin our reputation in order to attract unsustainable investment
Such irresponsible acts, of which this government has become an expert, jeopardise the sustainable future of the basic services our people depend on.
The PN under my helm will develop a strategy through which wealth reaches everyone. We need to understand our duty towards those from whom we have inherited this country. Pensioners need to be treated with respect. Their contribution needs to be celebrated and their hard work rewarded.
At the same time our duty also extends to those who are not yet with us. We must guarantee a strong economy for the Maltese children of the future in order to provide them with the best possible education, a healthy environment and exciting career prospects. Our grandchildren have a right to inherit a sustainable economy.
Above all, I want an economy that works for our young people today. An economy that does not consider young people merely as consumers. I want young people moving forward the economy with their innovative ideas and hard work.
A future Nationalist government will be their natural partner as they invest in the future.
It is also our duty as a party to tackle poverty. But first, we need to understand it. It is not enough to tackle ‘traditional’ poverty. We must also address new forms of poverty that many often ignore. A child leaving school without numeracy and literacy is a poor child. A single mother juggling two jobs to make ends meet with no time to spend with her child, is a poor woman. A society that tolerates abuse is a poor society.
As PN leader I will ensure that solidarity remains a guiding principle for our economic policy. The economic change we seek is one where the economy works for the people, and not the other way round.
That’s why I want to build an economy that contributes towards the full development of each one of us, whether it is social, cultural or educational.
A future Nationalist government will attract foreign investment through our reputation, and not ruin our reputation in order to attract unsustainable investment. We will value what is right and not what is quick. We cannot strengthen our economy unless we strengthen our country’s reputation.
This is how Malta’s post-1987 economy was built, with the laying of strong, sustainable foundations which we still enjoy today.
Sustainability must remain key for our children to find a striving economy upon leaving school 15 or 20 years later. We must ensure that our schools prepare our children for the economy of tomorrow.
Just like previous Nationalist governments did, when they built – among others – the financial services, the gaming and the aviation industry, we must roll out a clear strategy to attract to Malta the next big thing. We must ensure a vibrant economy and a skilled, versatile workforce ready to take on new challenges.
Everyone agrees that our economy needs to improve its productivity. This can only be achieved through the right investment in education and infrastructure – two areas where the PN will be focusing on under my helm. The history of our country shows that when we invested in education and infrastructure the results were enjoyed by all.
As PN leader I will ensure that our economic policy safeguards our natural environment. The attitude of cash-flow-at-any-cost will result in a hefty price for our children to pay. Ruining whatever is left of our natural environment in the name of progress is short-sighted and outright irresponsible.
We need to be careful not to ruin what makes our country unique. We must choose very carefully which areas to build our economy on. Our country needs a strong economy, but it must also provide an all-round exceptional quality of life to its people and those visiting it. It is in this context that we must not ignore traditionally important sectors of our economy, such as manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries.
Our economy is surely not stagnant, but we can all agree that it’s not a first-class economy either. Our country needs a clear and sustainable economic vision, guaranteeing a better life for all.
This is what I promise to provide as leader of the Nationalist Party – a clear vision to create an economy that benefits all and leaves no one behind.
Chris Said is a Nationalist Party leadership contender.