Leader of the Opposition Alex Borg ,speaking about Gozo on Sunday morning, said that he wants to see “progress and sustainable development that goes hand in hand with environmental protection, without losing what gives Gozo its added value over Malta and helps attract both Maltese and foreign tourists.”

Referring to the island’s connectivity as the greatest obstacle, including for young Gozitans wishing to further their studies, he pledged that a new Nationalist Government would invest in five new vessels – one dedicated to direct cargo transport to the Freeport – together with the necessary modernisation of port infrastructure to accommodate the new Gozo Channel fleet.

Alex Borg made these remarks during and interview in Gozo by RTK103 and Newsbook presenter Matthias Mercieca, in an interview broadcast on Net Television.

He also referred to the news revealed today by the Sunday Times of Malta – “that the duplex penthouse with a jacuzzi, airspace and garage purchased by Roderick Galdes cost €45,000 less than a similar property in the same block, without a garage, sold by the same contractor two years before the Minister for Affordable Housing signed his promise of sale – further strengthens the PN’s view that Galdes must resign, or be removed by the Prime Minister.”

The PN Leader outlined several measures a future PN Government would implement to help young people become homeowners, including: government assistance with loan deposits, rent-to-own schemes, equity sharing, and incentives for young couples to purchase vacant properties.

The PN Leader also referred to recent incidents in schools. While thanking educators, he said that parents and students expect greater safety in our schools to ensure peace of mind for their children.

On the quality of education offered today, Alex Borg stressed that Malta’s realities and needs are changing rapidly, and that education must equip students to meet the emerging challenges of the labour market while giving them the tools required for new industries such as AI, Fintech, MedTech, digital innovation, eSports and 3D printing.

He recalled how a Nationalist Government had signed the MCAST-Lufthansa Technik agreement to train students for the aviation sector, and said the Government must follow this model to prepare students for the new economic sectors.

On the rising cost of medicines, Alex Borg reiterated the PN’s appeal for the immediate withdrawal of the Legal Notice introducing new fees for the registration of medicines, which will inevitably push up prices.

He recalled the debate that arose when he spoke about generic medicines, noting how those who claimed to speak on behalf of consumers at the time “have now quietly introduced a new tax which will ultimately harm consumers – in this case patients, the elderly and the vulnerable.”

“When I spoke about medicines, they accused me of undermining the sector,” Alex Borg said, pointing out that now “these increases have been introduced without consultation with stakeholders, harming a pharmaceutical sector which was built through Nationalist Government efforts.”

On population growth “without a plan,” Alex Borg said “the problem is not foreign workers but the Labour Government’s flawed economic model – a model initiated when Clyde Caruana was responsible for employment policy and further strengthened by the Prime Minister, with the Minister for Finance now warning that to maintain current economic growth rates, Malta’s population would need to grow to 800,000.”

Alex Borg said the PN acknowledges that some sectors such as construction and hospitality depend on foreign workers, which is why he is calling for a Labour Market Study to identify where foreign workers are genuinely needed and where they are not.

While emphasising that this study is essential to gain a true picture of the situation and avoid random importation of foreign labour without direction, Alex Borg said the unmanaged population growth is placing enormous pressure on infrastructure – with hospitals unable to cope with patient numbers, roads unable to cope with traffic, and public services unable to meet demand.

He highlighted the urgent need for agreement on a mass transport system, noting that the Opposition has extended a hand of cooperation, “while Government MPs cannot agree among themselves.”

Photo: PN

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