"Work in Gozo for the Gozitans"- Joseph Muscat

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat has reiterated Labour’s promise of creating jobs in Gozo for the Gozitans. This Labour policy was reaffirmed on Sunday morning during a session of the Labour party Congress which was held in Sannat. At the end of Muscat’s speech, the Congress members unanimously approved this manifesto guideline by a show of hands. The members present constituted a good representative cross- section of the Gozitan community; from university students and young adults, to middle-aged parents and pensioners.

In his relatively short speech at the end of the congress, during which various people had shared their opinions, Muscat explained that the aim of this congress was not for politicians like himself to speak, but for the politicians to listen. For this reason, Muscat said that he wanted to speak as little as possible, explaining that this was what the Labour movement was all about.

Muscat proceeded to explain that the Maltese political parties as we have always known them are now defunct, and that Labour was ushering in a new era for political parties in Malta. The Labour movement, rather than dictate what should be done, was much more willing to listen to what the experts have to say. These experts are none other than the people, who live daily through the issues which politicians merely discuss and decide on.

Muscat believed that by means of this congress the people had shown that they were eager to make their voices heard in order to contribute to the decision-making process. Gozitans in particular were the experts on Gozitan issues, from health to work and education. Labour was therefore comforted that what was being said by the Gozitans, especially by businessmen and entrepreneurs, was in line with what Labour was proposing.

Less bureaucracy and more accountability automatically lead to more jobs for the people, Muscat said. Labour did not view Gozo as a burden that the country has to carry, but aimed to create a Gozo which would be an important engine for the development of the country.