Joseph Muscat pledges enforcement crackdown in first 100 days speech

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has pledged better enforcement in a speech yesterday commemorating the first 100 days of the new administration.

In a wide-ranging speech at the Rialto in Cospicua, Muscat described the enforcement of the country’s regulations as one of its biggest challenges and while saying that regulations governing the land need to be clearer, he pledged stricter enforcement regimes.

Along such lines, he touched upon rents, encroachments, driving, public order and drugs.

He recalled how he had recently been approached by a woman who had had her rent suddenly doubled, explaining that “such situations are unacceptable and there needs to clear regulations on how these things should be allowed to happen.”

But, he said, the government could not simply shoot from the hip, and stressed that consultation is the best way forward.

Recalling his pro-business approach, he said that while businesses should be able to place “a table or two on the pavement, they should not just go ahead and take up the whole street.”

“The regulations are there, it is the enforcement that is needed, and that is going to begin.”

Turning to reckless driving, Muscat remarked how “we’ve had too many traffic accidents because of speeding, accidents that are not acceptable. I have instructed the police and other authorities to be even stricter in this area.”

Confirming that the Marsa Open Centre would be closed down, he also noted that more enforcement was needed when it came to certain anti-social behaviour, which, he insisted, “will not be tolerated or ignored.”

“If there is a situation where people are shouting in the streets in the early hours of the morning or the pavements have become public lavatories, then we need to do something.”

However, the Prime Minster also mentioned that the more one isolates people, more is the chance that ‘ghettos’ will develop. “The long-term solution is to integrate people” he stressed.

Some 160 people will need to be relocated from the centre to Ħal Far, and he made it clear that the government would not be simply transferring the problem from Marsa to Birżebbuġa.

He added: “To ensure this does not happen, instructions will be given to the competent authorities to increases their presence where it is needed.”

Turning to drug reform, specifically that of marijuana, he once again spoke in favour of legalisation as he had done during the election campaign. “Under each and every government, drugs have remained an issue, legislation means that the government will have control,” Muscat added.

Phasing out petrol and diesel

The Prime Minster spoke at length about Malta’s future plans and of one day eliminating petrol and diesel cars in favour of electric or other vehicular systems: “Other countries like France and Holland are looking forward, they have planned for the banning of petrol and diesel to begin at 2020 to 2040. We will do likewise.”

Muscat said a consultation will be launched on a cut-off date for the purchase of new petrol and diesel fuelled cars.

Refundable plastic bottles

As for the blight of dumping plastic around the country and its impact on the environment Muscat spoke about the impacts such material has on sea life and the environment in general. He suggested a refund system, such as that in place years ago for glass bottles, where people instead would be able to hand in their plastic and receive a refund: “No one is going throw away money so they won’t throw away plastic anymore either,” he remarked.

Malta has joined the ‘elites of Europe’

Muscat named Malta as among the “elites” of Europe, mentioning how Malta’s economy has grown three times faster than the rest of Europe. He remarked how the Fitch rating agency had recently upgraded Malta’s credit rating to A+, a decision he said that was on account of the government’s budgetary surplus, an increase in jobs, and the change from economic uncertainty to confidence. “The next time it will be an A++,” he added.

He also referred back to the election period and spoke of the uncertainty at the time when the ‘klikka’ had done its outmost to damage the country’s economy.

“We chose to put our country first, your jobs first, the jobs that everyone is enjoying. Everyone who has work today, may have lost that work because uncertainty was creeping in.

“We moved away from the old style of politics that sees people clinging to power for as long as possible. Instead, I went out to the people with serenity and showed them the good and the bad, and let them choose.”

PM asks his MEPs to back Simon Busuttil to European Parliament post

Muscat said that he has already asked his MEPs to back Simon Busutill for the post he has been nominated to at the European Parliament. “The recommendation is coming from me, and me alone,” Dr Muscat stated. On Tuesday, the European Parliament will be holding a vote for Dr Busuttil’s nomination to serve on the EU panel tasked with scrutinising judges and advocates-general nominated to the European Court of Justice.

“If there was anyone truly affected by what was said about me in the last election, it was me and my family. But we are Maltese first and foremost. And this is not a party of vindication or jealousy. Busuttil is Maltese like us.”

He noted as well, that if Dr Busuttil was to be appointed to such a post, he would still be an Opposition MP when Maltese government nominations to the European Court came up, and he for one would like to see them decided by Dr Busuttil.

We moved away from the old style of politics that sees people clinging to power for as long as possible. Instead, I went out to the people with serenity and showed them the good and the bad, and let them choose