Malta and Gozo belong to us all. That has been our underlying message throughout this long campaign. My party has been consistently positive, laying out a whole new direction for our country and a real vision for Malta’s future.

Our opponents argue that only GonziPN can be entrusted with the running of our country and its finances, and that any other path will simply lead to ruin. This is simply untrue.

While it is certainly the case that Malta has fared better than Greece, our people still struggle to make ends meet because of high utility bills and excessive costs of bureaucracy. It is also true that our country is suffering from chronic problems of sheer incompetence and corruption.

In spite of the Government machine’s spin, there is no ‘either/or’ choice between strong macro-economic performance, and putting more money in your pocket – these are two sides of the same coin.

Corruption is an unwelcome tax on all Maltese and Gozitans. We see it every month in the sky-high utility bills we receive, and in tax rates that I believe are too high for most people. Yet as living costs soared during this parliament, Lawrence Gonzi’s team decided to award themselves a pay rise of €500 per week, then keep it quiet.

This wasn’t just crass; it was symptomatic of a government that has lost its way, a clique that has forgotten that all of us in politics are the servants of the people – not the other way round.

Demanding higher standards will be an immediate priority for my government. This means that MPs will only be paid for the sessions of Parliament they attend. A Whistleblowers’ Act will protect those who speak out and the time-bar on crimes will be removed so that the corrupt can be investigated, and brought to justice. My commitment to you is of a strong government, rooted in accountability to the people of Malta.

In a modern Malta, this is less a question of the old partisan politics than it is of competence and simply doing the right thing.

People – from all political backgrounds – tell me simply, “we can’t go on like this.”

Ministers might try to brush the failures aside but for the public at the receiving end, the pain has been all too real. Elderly people queuing in the blazing heat to sort out their ARMS bills, the whole nation feeling the assault on their purses and wallets when the cost of our utility bills went through the roof… the people deserve so much better.

Perhaps one of the most obvious fiascos came about through the much-vaunted reform of our transport system.

The bus routes drawn up in Austin Gatt’s ministry might have made sense to him – but for the people who actually had to use them, they were ridiculous.

Literally; who can forget the memorable phrase related about bendy buses “making their way through the tight streets of Malta with all the grace of an elephant stuck in a Wendy house”? Unfortunately, the joke was on us.

I want to lead a government that will slash excessive bureaucracy, and pass on the savings to you.

This isn’t simplistic politicking, it also happens to make good economic sense. By ensuring that every young person in Malta is either earning or learning, that working families have access to quality childcare, and that tax credits are targeted at small business owners, we will drive sustainable economic growth.

And you don’t have to take my word for it – these are the same priorities that Standard and Poor’s identified while they gave GonziPN a second downgrade for their economic performance.

We can do better and for our children’s sake, we must.

The movement I lead went into this election determined to present a positive, costed programme. It is interesting sometimes to read that we are “promising too much”, when in fact both sides agree that implementing our road map would be 30 per cent cheaper than GonziPN’s programme.

We have run the risk of being out-bid in the battle of electoral promises, but I believe voters want peace of mind, a realistic choice, not more gimmickry. I will not promise to deliver anything that is over and above what this country can afford.

Choosing a new direction is vital. Fresh minds bring new ideas and Labour in government will be at its creative best.

Not only will we lower the tax burden and open new health centres, but we will deliver medicines to pensioners, reduce utility bills, introduce civil unions, open a museum of contemporary art, give computer tablets to Year 4 students and make Malta the world’s first Wi-Fi country. This is the modern Malta we want – a positive, prosperous future for us all.

But it can only happen if you give us your trust on Saturday.