No VAT for NGOs, voluntary organisations, Borg pledges
Opposition leader slams Prime Minister for pulling out of TV debate
Voluntary organisations and non-government organisations will be exempt from paying VAT if the Nationalist Party is elected, Opposition leader Alex Borg announced on Thursday.
Speaking at a campaign event in Żejtun, where PN introduced its candidates on the third district, Borg also announced a scheme whereby VOs and NGOs that rent government property as their premises could buy the property.
“I recognise the important work done by these organisations, such as those related to village feasts. Much of the money spent by VOs and NGOs on equipment and so on ends up going back into the community,” he said, promising that all VAT paid by such organisations would be refunded.
Borg also noted that many organisations rent their premises from the state. “We will be introducing a scheme, similar to the rent-to-buy scheme but for VOs and NGOs, so they have peace of mind. This is how communities are strengthened.”
Borg said that instead of being in Żejtun, he should be on TV with Prime Minister Robert Abela, since the pair were scheduled to take part in a debate on TVM moderated by Maltatoday’s Saviour Balzan.
“Unfortunately, I was called and told it was cancelled because the Prime Minister would not be taking part. The pity is that people are thirsty to see a debate – not a fight, but a chance to put forward our vision, ideas, proposals, and give people the opportunity to evaluate them and make a decision. That’s democracy,” he said.
Borg said that unlike the Labour Party, which was “throwing around money and proposals”, the PN was showing the electorate where it wanted to take the country.
“Last week we started with the health sector, which is a certificate of failure for Labour, For us, it will be a certificate of our legacy.”
Borg repeated a promise to create an economy that “does not put pressure on people or infrastructure,” referring to previous proposals such as the fixed offshore fuel hub off Hurd’s Bank, announced on Tuesday, a plan to scrap inheritance tax announced on Wednesday, and a major overhaul of Malta’s income tax bands "over two years", part of a wider package of fiscal measures that would result in significant tax cuts unveiled earlier on Thursday.