PM reports positive indications of interest in investment

Despite the challenges, the country was moving forward and had achieved excellent results that would be even stronger in the months ahead, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

Apart from external challenges, the country also had to face internal waves, he said, referring to what he called the opposition leader's fabrications.

Alfred Sant was trying to manipulate the truth and twist the facts, he warned, referring to claims that the budget had increased taxation. "He would only believe the statistics if they are negative, even if they come from the same source," Dr Gonzi said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at a dialogue meeting on the budget, Nibnu Fuq Hilitna (building on our abilities), at the Msida PN club, where he said the government was able to present a budget that did not include any new taxes because the results from the reforms set in motion were already being achieved.

Another important reform, this time at the ports, would be carried out next year in order to help increase competitiveness and allow Malta's manufacturing industry to compete. "There are encouraging signs ahead," Dr Gonzi said. "I do not want to raise expectations but we receive positive indications of interest in investment in Malta every single day," he said.

The Parliamentary Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Tonio Fenech, who also addressed the dialogue meeting, spoke about the package of initiatives the government announced in the budget to generate more employment.

The government showed it was responsible by amending the proposed property sales tax scheme and yet it was criticised for taking remedial action, Mr Fenech said.

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg highlighted what he termed the hypocrisy of the General Workers' Union. Following the Labour Party's anti-social budget in 1998, the union had not staged any silent marches, or demonstrations, despite the fact that the MLP had increased fuel prices to "astronomical" levels - more than the PN has done to date - at a time when the cost of oil was $12 a barrel, as opposed to $70 today.

Dr Borg said that when adding up the total expenditure on ministers' cars, quoting a figure of Lm4.3 million, the MLP had included school transport (Lm1.5 million), the 320-strong police fleet and even ambulances!