In certain applications and ong key PN proposals

floated by the PN – the Party said it would take a position on the project once all the relative studies had been published.

“The addition of a fourth ferry has brought about a substantial improvement by reducing queues and journey times,” it said. It is calling on the government to carry out a cost benefit analysis that will consider all the possible options for improving all year round connectivity between Malta and Gozo.

In terms of concrete proposals for the island, the PN proposes that the government provides fiscal incentives for Gozo business operators to help them expand their operations in Gozo; that it develops a long-term plan to help stop the brain-drain that is plaguing Gozo; that it provides increased investment for the ITS in Gozo and delivers on the pledges it made – particularly in respect of the building of a new hospital – and invests in upgrading education facilities in Gozo, amongst others.

The pre-budget document also goes into key areas of government, such as road and public transport. In this aspect, the PN highlights that the push to increase population growth through inward migration is contributing to the increase in traffic and therefore to the further deterioration of air quality. It argues that “the government’s belated solution of widening the existing road network will worsen the air quality problem since it will encourage – or allow – more vehicles on the road.”

A key suggestion to help alleviate this situation is the introduction of a mass transportation system that will reduce travelling time between main areas in Malta. This is not the first time that the PN has made such a proposal and it would go hand-in-hand with other proposals they have made, including the addition of more bus routes, that the government should consider introducing a carbon-neutral transport system for its employees and that private sector companies should be given fiscal incentives to organise communal transport services.

Financial services and iGaming

The PN document highlights the fact that the challenges faced by the financial services sector are not minor. It highlights the fact that the education system needs to adapt to better prepare our students and future employees for the opportunities offered by the Maltese economy.

Other issues the PN identifies include the recent Moneyval report, the difficulties businesses find when trying to open a bank account in Malta and regulatory deficiencies.

“The past six years have been characterised by a series of highprofile regulatory failures. While the country’s reputation has suffered mostly from the Pilatus saga, the regulators also oversaw the failure of two other banks, Nemea Bank and Satabank.”

Among other things, the PN proposes that the government appoints an a-political think tank of experts with years of experience in the financial services sector to ensure that all findings of the Moneyval 5th round report are addressed and that all de-risking measures are applied with immediate effect.

In terms of iGaming, the PN took aim at the lack of enforcement in this sector, adding that it is having a negative effect on jobs.

Other issues

The document covers a number of other topics on which the PN has made proposals.

In terms of tourism, the Party is calling for increased investment in large-scale projects such as the beach replenishment project and the aquarium and heritage projects that have been carried out in the past and that will improve Malta’s year-round tourism offering. Among other things, the PN also calls for the re-introduction of tourism police and a concerted effort to improve the level of cleanliness in developed areas.

Of particular interest was the PN taking a stance on a particular project site.

“The Opposition will support investment in the Jerma site as long as the investment is in line with existing development policies, is primarily tourism related (including a superior class hotel) and is restricted to the current footprint of the existing dilapidated structure. A major tourism project in this part of the island can help re-establish Marsascala and the surrounding areas as a prime tourism zone.”