Tax holiday proposal "a cosmetic gesture" - UHM

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin lamented with opposition leader Alfred Sant that his proposed tax holiday was just a cosmetic measure which sent the wrong message to the electorate.

No political party should promise to go on a spending spree before an election, especially when the country was still facing financial difficulties, UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella said.

The UHM had a meeting with Dr Sant on Thursday during which it presented its electoral proposals. The meeting was only open to photographers and cameramen.

Last week, Dr Sant promised a two-month tax holiday if his party were elected in the April 12 election.

Contacted yesterday, Mr Vella said such initiatives would not kick-start the economy, and this was unanimously agreed between all the constituted bodies, with the exception of the General Workers' Union.

"What we need is political stability, a clear plan of action, and a defined foreign policy, one directed towards membership of the EU.

"Our advice to the electorate about the political parties: don't judge a book by its cover, but by its contents."

Mr Vella said he informed the Labour leadership that the economy should keep operating within the framework of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

During the meeting, Mr Vella also broached the subject of EU membership, and he insisted that the next prime minister was duty-bound to sign the accession treaty on April 16.

"That is crucial to ensure our democratic credentials are not jeopardised. Our absence from Athens would make us the laughing stock of Europe," he said.

However, the MLP still believed that the issue of EU membership should be resolved in the coming election.

Mr Vella said the UHM complained with the leadership of the Labour Party about the fact that the party's media was completely ignoring the union.

On the other hand, Mr Vella said, the "old, failed, school of thought" between the GWU and the MLP was sadly still firmly rooted.

The UHM would remain an independent union, even if certain individuals tried to portray it as being in league with the Nationalist Party.