Delia says PN willing to help, but budget show government has no plan for the country

Newly elected PN leader Adrian Delia offered a helping hand to the government after saying that this year’s budget was an indication that the current administration had no plan for the future of the country.

Delia criticised the government for failing to address the traffic problem the country is facing, saying that “fixing the roads will not solve the traffic problem.” However, when pressed by The Malta Independent, Delia failed to provide a concrete plan the PN had for this sector, insisting that it was on the government to propose the solutions.

He said that he expected the proposed 25 arterial road projects to be completed by next year, and expressed concern over the €700 million project dedicated to improving the road network.

“The government said it would fix all the roads in Malta in seven years but all they proposed this year was the establishment of an agency to find solutions. From when is this seven-year plan going to start? The government said that this is one of the biggest investments this country has seen, but it will only start conducting studies now?”

Delia once again criticised the surplus generated by the government, insisting that it was landing in the back pockets of the few while also saying that national debt has in fact increased by “1,000 million.”

Delia lambasted the government for failing to mention once again the second pillar with regards to pensions.

“The government implements yearly measures, budget by budget. Pensions have increased by €2. What medicine can you buy with that?”

Turning to education, Delia said that the field is currently experiencing a crisis, placing particular reference on the teaching shortage in the country. “The government has proposed the construction of three schools, the same three schools they proposed last year.”

He also highlighted the 33% MATSEC pass rate, emphasising that the high number of early school leavers indicates that young people do not have faith in the country’s education system.

Delia said that he was shocked that the government had mentioned a tourism target but failed to give concrete measures on how this would be achieved.

On Air Malta, he said that on the one hand, the budget highlights the importance of Air Malta, while on the other, Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi suggests scrapping the whole workforce and starting a new company. Both Mizzi and Air Malta chairman Charles Mangion have been clear that this would only arise out of insolvency and it is a last resort they do not wish to take.

Delia also warned of the emergence of a new form of social poverty. “Where is the dream Muscat had for the new middle class?”

Delia stressed that there were sections of the budget that the party agreed with, namely the extra day leave provided to workers, the free school transport for all students initiative, the €10,000 provided to couples seeking adoption, and the changes made to the Community Workers Scheme.

He criticised the government for failing to prepare sufficiently for alternative energy sources; and for maintaining a petrol price above the European average. On the extension of IIP, he said that while it may be the only sector the government proudly created, the budget failed to say how much income was generated, is projected to generate, and its prospective future.

He said the budget also excluded farmers, fisherman, and local councils. Criminality, Delia said, was also another issue the government ignored.