Speaking during an interview with Ruth Amaira from the Public Broadcasting Services, Dr Gonzi said that the Budget will show that government’s priority is that of continuing to nurture a job-generating economy, while keeping the family at the centre of our attention.

Dr Gonzi said that in the upcoming budget, the government will continue to develop a programme to overcome the challenges as it had done so far. He said that while this was not to say that in the current economic turmoil, Malta escaped unscathed, compared to other countries, it had somehow weathered the storm.

However, he warned that the storm was not yet over and steps must be taken to remain competitive.



Here, Dr Gonzi referred to the international oil prices that had risen since October last year. He explained that the water-and-electricity tariffs should reflect the cost of oil but encouraged the Maltese people to be careful on consumption. Dr Gonzi confirmed that although the government offered assistance to some 4,000 households for the purchase of solar water heaters, the grant was taken up by just 2,500.

The Prime Minister said that the government was discussing the possibility to take on board the proposal to establish beforehand the maximum rates for W&E tariffs. However, he warned that this would mean that once prices are fixed, they cannot be revised downwards.

Meanwhile, the health system could not be ignored and need to be sustained for the country to face the ever increasing prices among other problems, he said.

Dr Gonzi added that the government is committed to reduce the waiting-lists and it considering the possibility to team up with private hospitals in order to reduce this problem.

The Prime Minister also commented on the number of what are classified as people on long-term care at Mater Dei. He explained that these were persons were unable to return to their homes for a number of reasons. He admitted that these were taking up beds which could be used to cut the waiting-lists.

Dr Lawrence Gonzi also referred to the MEPA auditor’s comments on the court ruling of the Mistra case. He explained that Magistrates’ Court ruled that there was nothing wrong with the meeting between the developers and MEPA planning officers. However, the MEPA auditor Joe Falzon commented that these meeting were illegal.

These comments were not taken lightly by the Prime Minister who said that one should respect the institutions. 

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