Wara l-firem

Il-Kullhadd Wara l-firem

Il-firem ingabru. In-nies marret bi hgara tipprotesta. Il-gvern zied doza ohra ta` l-arroganza tieghu billi ddikjara li dan ma jfisser xejn u bl-ebda mod m`hu ser jibdel il-pozizzjoni tieghu. U issa l-poplu jistenna` l-budget li gej ha jara jekk il-gvern il-messagg effitivament hadux jew le.

Skond il-pjan tal-gvern li kien hareg sentejn ilu ghas-sena d-diehla` jehtieglu jdahhal madwar Lm36 miljun lira izjed minn infurzar ta` taxxi u minn taxxi godda u ma dan irid jizdied Lm25 miljun li jrid ihallas lil tac-civil. Hemm ukoll il-kwistjoni ta` l-gholi fil-prezz taz-zejt li sal-lum il-gvern harabha ghax baqa` jittama li l-prezz taz-zejt jigu lura f`postu wahdu u ma jkunx hemm bzonn interventi mill-gvern.

Dan kollu juri kemm minkejja diskors li jinghad dwar kemm qed jitjiebu l-finanzi tal-gvern dan kollu huwa loghob bil-kliem. Il-finanzi tal-gvern din is-sena zdiedu ghax biss biss fl-ewwel tmien xhur tas-sena il-gvern gabar minghand il-poplu Malti Lm47 miljun lira izjed mill-istess tmien xhur tas-sena l-ohra f`taxxi diretti u ndiretti u f`kontribuzzjonijiet tas-sigurta socjali.

Mela biex beda jirranga il-finanzi tieghu il-gvern kellu jiehu mizuri li laqtu lil kulhadd li battlu flus il-poplu u mlew ftit mil-hofra tal-gvern. Mhux ilkoll qed inhallsu income tax aktar mis-sena l-ohra` Mhux ilkoll qed inhallsu bolla tan-National Insurance iktar mis-sena l-ohra` Mhux ilkoll qed inhallsu iktar tal-petrol, diesel, transport pubbliku , telefon` hobz u elf haga ohra milli konna nhallsu s-sena l-ohra.

Minkejja dan il-gvern qed jippjana li se jkompli jaghfas ha jigbor aktar flus mit-taxxi.` U allura hafna minnkom ser jistaqsu ` l-firem ghal fejn ser jiswew`

Il-firem jiswew biex il-mexxejja tal-Unions jhossu li l-poplu qieghed warajhom. Meta l-partit laburista jkun fl-oppozizzjoni l-uniku tarka tal-haddiema huma l-unions. Kull meta fil-passat gvern nazzjonalista ta lil unions biex izommhom kwieti kien qed jirhan il-futur li issa waslu biex ihallsu tieghu il-haddiema. Ma dak li ha l-haddiem il-gvern iggustifika li jiehdu hafna u hafna ohrajn. Izda issa l-gvern ghax kostrett mis-sitwazzjoni finanzjarja qed idur fuq il-haddiem u haddiehor li maxtar u ffanga bilkemm minsus.

X`se jaghmlu l-partit tal-haddiema u l-unions biex ma jhallux li l-haddiem ikollu jhallas hu ta` l-irresponsabbilta` tal-kultura ta` money no problem tal-passat.

L-ewwel nett irid johrog car kemm hemm bzonn ta` ftehim bejn il-Unions u l-Partit Laburista.` M`hiniex nghid il-GWU izda il-unions kollha, dawk kollha li verament ghandhom ghal qalbhom il-gid ta` min jghix bil-paga u l-pensjoni. Dan m\ghandux isir bil-habi. L-ghaqdiet tan-negozju ma jinhbewx biex jaghtu kull imbottatura possibbli lil-partit nazzjonalista.

It-tieni irridu nifhmu li biex verament nipprotegu lill-haddimea hemm bzonn li l-partit laburista jkun fil-gvern. Mhux ghax meta` jigri dan il-partit laburista mhux xorta jkollu jmexxi m`mod li kostrett mic-cirkustanzi li jsib ikollu jiehu passi li jistghu jolqtu hazin anke lil-jklassi tal-haddiema.` Izda meta dan ikun inevitabbli irid isir bi ftehim shih mal-Unions li jifhmu li dan qed isir bi pjan biex tissolva l-problema u mhux biex tigi vantaggata klassi fuq ohra.

Izda sadinittant li l-partit laburista qieghed fl-oppozizzjoni jridu jkunu il-unions` li bis-support tal-partit laburista u tal-mezzi ta` komunikazzjoni tieghu, ma jhallux lil gvern jghaddi b`romblu minn fuq il-haddiema.

Il-messagg issa inghata. Il-gvern ghandu zewg ghazliet. Jew jiftah diskussjoni wiesgha mal-unions u ma l-Oppozizzjoni biex isir pjan nazzjonali halli il-passi li hemm bzonn jittiehdu jittiehdu fi ftehim li jizgura li kullhadd igorr skond kemm jiflah. Jew jekk irid jibqa` ghaddej il-gvern irid juza s-sahha li taghtih il-kariga kontra s-sahha tal-poplu li jhossu ttradut b`min weghdu l-genna fl-art u issa qed itih l-infern tat-taxxi.

Ghal dan jehtieg li l-GWU tahdem b`mohha. Ma rridux nghaddu lill-haddiema minn passjoni biex jiehu d-drittijiet tieghu. U lanqas ma rridu naghmlu hsara lil pajjiz ghax fl-ahhar mill-ahhar l-aktar li jkollu jaghmel tajjeb ghal din il-hsara huwa z-zghir.

Ghalhekk irridu ninghaqdu izjed, biex naghmlu kuragg b`xulxin u fejn ma nistghux nidhlu bhala haddiema` ghax ir-regim repressiv ma jridx ihalli spazju ghad-dissens, jidhlu sahansitra in-nisa , xjuh u t-tfal biex bin-numru kbar taghhom nuru li dak li hu tal-haddiema, dak li bnew il-haddiema bl-gharaq ta` demmhom m`hu ser izarmah hadd.

Alfred Mifsud

SwedishMIC

The Malta Independent

Swedish MIC

Suzanne Askelof , a former head of the Swedish Secretariat for European Affairs, the Swedish equivalent to the local Malta EU Information Centre (MIC), was recently invited to Malta to explain the Swedish experience regarding dissemination of information leading to the referendum which decided in favour of Sweden`s accession to EU membership.

I quote here what she said` when questioned about the impartiality of the Swedish MIC. After stating that she always made it clear that her Secretariat was not a mouthpiece` of the Swedish Government that was pushing in favour of accession and that the Secretariat was not working in the interest of those in favour of membership, she said:

`We always gave the facts.` We did this not by distributing glossy brochures. We made contact, without much publicity, with influential journalists and columnists to ensure that they get their facts right, immaterial of whether or not they were in favour or against membership.`

Is this what MIC is doing locally` Clearly the function of disseminating factual information is being done.` But is the recipient of that information` confident that the MIC is not just another organ pushing in favour of EU membership.

I firmly believe that the decision about EU membership belongs to the people. It does not belong to the government or the opposition. It is one of those decisions the consequences of which go far beyond a single legislature and therefore the people have the right to have the final say on the specific issue when they have enough information upon which to base an intelligent decision.

I also believe that such information is as yet not available. We do not know as yet if Malta will have the right to nominate a commissioner. We do not know what decisions we will have the right to veto. We have no idea what voting power we will have to really be in a position to influence decisions in the Council of Ministers. We still have no idea whether we will be allowed to opt out of the defence and` common foreign policy arrangements which the EU is aiming to adopt on a uniform basis across all member countries.

So far the MIC has been active in giving information, and correct one at that, on those aspects which depict the EU in a positive manner. In doing so it is failing its duty to help the nation make` a conscious decision on an informed basis.

It is therefore time that the MIC starts addressing all aspects of EU membership. It is the duty of MIC to inform what would be the effect of EU agricultural policies on the cost of living of basic food essentials. To inform whether Malta would be able to continue offering fiscal incentives to attract new foreign investment in industry and in financial services including back office processing.` To inform whether Malta would be able to opt out of defence arrangement in order not to allow Maltese territory to be used against neighbouring countries if the EU is involved in belligerent action against a Mediterranean neighbour. To inform whether Malta would be able to manage its own economy with its own fiscal, monetary, rate of exchange and other demand management policies. Or whether all these would rendered subsidiary to central EU decisions leaving as the only economic` variable the mobility of labour which would be expected to go and look for work in bigger countries that can adapt better to manage their economy within` the EU rules.

It is high time for MIC to take the Swedish line` and start dishing out all the information in a factual unbiased manner.

Alfred Mifsud

After the petition

The Times of Malta

After the petition

Two events involving the GWU and a Nationalist government both held in October six years apart from each other show just how much the government has lost its capacity to tolerate dissent and how much it is ruling by a sort of heavenly edict.

In October 1994 the GWU with the support of the GRTU ordered a one day strike to protest against the introduction of VAT. The Government tolerated this strike action as perfectly legitimate, did not question its legality and did not obstruct the free expression of those who felt should participate in the national strike protest.

In October 2000 the GWU orders a few hours strike to protest against the 2000 budget measures which in an unquestionable manner negatively influenced the standard of living of middle income families through increase in middle income bands of direct taxation , increase in National Insurance contributions, and increase in telephones and fuel prices, amongst others. Yet the government challenges the legitimacy of the Union`s action and is threatening to discipline workers who participated in the strike action. It also intimated many other workers to dissuade them for exercising their freedom to associate themselves with a directive issued by their Union.

The contrast between these two positions is further exposed by analysis of the respective underlying cause. The introduction of VAT was included in the electoral manifesto of 1992 and the government had an electoral mandate to introduce such fiscal regime.` Furthermore the unions were protesting then about a future action which they were fearing would reduce their members` standard of living.` As a matter of fact this would have been a once only effect on prices which government could compensate through other measures. It eventually did just that in the 1996 budget by softening the impact of direct taxation across the board.

So why did nobody then` question the legality of the Unions` one day general strike to protest against a possible future deterioration of the workers` standard of living from a measure for which the government then had an electoral mandate` Why is it that six years later we are firing all legalities at the GWU for organising a few hours restricted strike ( schools and hospitals were excluded) to protest against real deterioration in their members` standard of living by fiscal measures which do not match the electoral mandate through which the government has won its brief to govern`

Reality is that such legal threats are the last thing the country needs in order to find a permanent solution to its economic problems. Government`s high handed attitude is pushing this country to a state where free social services are becoming a dirty word and where the Unions are deprived of the right to show their dissent by organising a few hours strike.` In this pseudo democracy these are the fingerprints of a totalitarian state.

The question is what is motivating the government to behave so differently than it did six years ago I can think of only two reasons.` Firstly the absence of a proper electoral mandate for the measures being taken is forcing it` to the use of repressive measures and is reducing its tolerance for dissent. Secondly the economy still needs so much painful adjustment than what we have seen so far until control over government finances is regained,` that the government cannot allow the unions to use their strength even in a legitimate way.

This might suit the government fine but it does little to bring about harmony and stability, two basic ingredients for achieving true economic growth which is the least painful way of solving our economic problems.

Rather than using high handed tactics the government need to coax the unions and the opposition for the formation of` a national plan to address our deeply structured economic ills.` Just shooting at sitting ducks to squeeze more taxation without addressing the real problems of expenditure largesse which is still the hallmark of this administration` will bring more resentment, more protest and more disharmony.

Rather than arguing about the legality of the GWU`s actions the government should be explaining to the GWU that there is no way for an economic recovery programme to succeed without effecting the standard of living of the working class. But it` should be explaining the long term plan and explaining the all round benefits at the end recovery strategy. Just expecting the working class to do the sacrifices whilst` continuing to govern with the largesse so evident in all sectors is expecting the Unions to prejudice the interest of the members they are meant to defend.

Letter to the Editor - Meat and Posion

The Sunday Times of Malta



Editor, The Sunday Times, Valletta

Dear Mr Grech,

Meat and Poison

Lino Spiteri prefers a trade weighted basket for fixing the external value of the Maltese Lira.` I prefer an export trade weighted (based on net real value added not gross exports).` That`s a technical argument to which we are both entitled to hold our opinion.` But it is not the point I had made in my letter of 15th October 2000.

The point I made was that his assertion that I favour adopting the Euro as our currency is untrue. In a book I published last year I clearly stated:

`Meanwhile I am very much in favour of aligning the external value of our currency to the Euro without in effect being tied by the stranglehold of a monetary union for which we are far from being prepared`

Whether there is a great difference between total link with the Euro and its adoption as our official currency just ask the Danes.` In spite of their saying no to the latter they continue to live with the former.

As to the reasons why this untruth had to be said about me whilst incorrectly pitching me against the views expounded in parliament by Labour`s main spokesperson on the subject is the question I ask.` I am seeking not offering answers. Whilst being grateful for the kind comments Mr Spiteri had about me in this past this cannot be a license to say that I said what in fact I have not said.

Sincerely,

Alfred Mifsud

Xejn m'hu b'xejn

Il-Kullhadd

Xejn M`hu B`Xejn

Il- gvern qabbad il-hbieb li ghandu fil-media biex jippressaw messagg li xejn mhu b`xejn. Dawk il-gazzetti u media li sentejn ilu tghidx kemm newwhu kontra l-gholi fil-prezz tal-ilma u l-elettriku u qalu li gvern laburista kien tilef ir-ruh socjali,` issa ma jsibu l-ebda diffikulta` itambru li xejn m`hu b`xejn u li ghalhekk ma ghadniex nistennew li l-gvern izomm, haseb w`ara jsostni, is-servizzi socjali.

U fil-fatt huwa veru li xejn m`hu b`xejn.` U l-aktar li kienu jsostnu dan il-messagg kienu l-gvernijiet laburisti tas-sebghinijiet u tmenijiet li minkejja li bnew qafas socjali mill-qiegh nett ma ghabbewx lil pajjiz b`piz finanzjarju li` ma jiflahx ghalih.

Ghal min ghandu l-eta` tieghi jiftakar zgur li fis-sittinijet u qabel ma kien hawn xejn f`dawk li huma servizzi socjali. Kien hawn tallaba jigru mas-saqajn. Kien hawn xjuh li lanqas kellhom pensjoni u hekk kif jispiccaw mix-xoghol ikunu ikkundannati ghal faqar. Ma kienx hemm children`s allowance, sptarijiet u kura b`xejn, tghalim b`xejn sahansitra fl-universita fejn tinghata stipendju biex iz-zaghzghah jistudjaw bla ma jkun piz fuq il-familja.

Minkejja dan gvernijiet laburisti bnew struttura ta` servizzi socjali li hija l-ghira ta` pajjizi ohra.` U dan ma sarx billi mlejna il-pajjiz bid-dejn. Altru! Gvern laburista fl-1987 ma halla dejn kwazi xejn u halla rizervi li l-pajjiz seta` juza ghall-izvilupp tieghu.

Dan sar ghax qatt ma ippretendejna li hemm xi haga b`xejn. Dejjem kien car li s-servizzi socjali kienu piz li jrid jingarr minn dawk li jifilhu jahdmu u jifilhu jhallsu.` It-tkabbir ekonomiku kien is-sors li ffinanzja dawn is-servizzi socjali bla ma mlejna l-pajjiz bid-dejn.

Kien haddiehor li fl-ahhar tat-tmenijijiet beda jghallem li l-flus mhux problema. U issa wara tant snin nieklu minn gewwa qed nibdlu d-diska.` Issa l-flus problema.` Issa xejn mhu b`xejn. Hasra li kliem bhal dan ma jinghadx qabel l-elezzjoni. Hasra li qabel l-elezzjoni iweghduna tnaqqis tal-piz tat-taxxi u issa qed ghidulna li ma nistghux nippretendu servizzi tal-gvern b`xejn u kemm jista` jkun ghandna nhallsu tas-servizzi li niehdu minghand il-gvern.

Daz-zgur li xejn m`hu b`xejn.` Is-servizzi socjali nhallsu ghalihom minn butna. Jien ili nahdem 31 sena u matulhom hallast l-income tax` u l-bolla f`taxxi diretti u min jaf kemm taxxi ohra b`mod indirett f`dazji, sisa u VAT. Id-dhul tal-Gvern mit-taxxi jizdied qieghed mhux jonqos. Allura wiehed jistaqsi `l ghala qed iqum dan id-diskors ta` xejn mhu b`xejn meta fil-fatt qed inhallsu hafna aktar taxxi milli konna nhallsu qabel.

Biss biss hudu l-bolla li fl-ahhar sentejn zdiedet min 8% ghal 10%. Hudu l-petrol li wara li gholiet is-sisa fuqu fl-1997 u fl-1999, fis-sena 2000 zdidiet il-VAT fuqu.` `Hadd ma kien weghdna dan fil-programm elettorali.

Dan kollu zieda fid-dhul tal-gvern. Mela ghalfejn issa qed nikkundizzjunaw in-nies li huwa dnub li nistennew xi servizz b`xejn mill-gvern`

Il-verita` hija wahda. Dan il-pajjiz tant tmexxa b`mod irresponsabbli fl-ahhar 13 il-sena li l-flus tat-taxxi taghna issa qed jittieklu mil-piz tal-imghax tad-dejn tal-Gvern li qorob lejn l-elf miljun lira meta fl-1987 ma kien hemm dejn xejn. U thallux minn ibghellalkom li dawn il-flus intuzaw biex jiffinanzaw l-investimenti. Hemm dejn iehor fil-korporazzjonijiet u kumpaniji pubblici li iffinanzja l-investiment.

Jekk il-Freeport ghandu d-dejn tieghu biex wasal fejn wasal. Jekk l-Enemalta ghandha d-dejn taghha biex bniet il-power station.` L-istess il-Water Services, L-Air Malta u l-Gozo Channel, l-MIA u tant u tant azjendi tal-gvern ohra li jisselfu b`mod dirett.

Id-dejn` tal-gvern centrali gie sparpaljat f`sussidji bla sens, nfiq bla valur u tberbiq generali li gabet maghha l-kultura ta` money no problem. Lanqas ghandna biex nsewwu t-toroq u noqghodu nwebblu n-nies li dawn ser taghmilhomlna l-UE. Ghalhekk it-taxxi taghna qed jittieklu qabel ma jaslu biex jaghmlu tajjeb ghas-servizzi socjali.

U flok il-gvern jammetti htijietu issa jrid idur biex jibda jnaqqar dawn is-servizzi socjali jittimbra mohh kullhadd li hadd ma ghandu jippretendi xejn b`xejn biex jahbi dnubu li qed jisparpalja flusna f`mismanagement grottesk.

Ahna ma rridu xejn b`xejn. Kull ma rridu huwa valur ghat-taxxi li nhallsu u tmexxija u ghaqlija li mhux l-ewwel tberbaq u tahli u mbaghad twahhal fina li rridu l-affarijiet b`xejn.

Alfred Mifsud

Taxxu u cejca

Il-Kullhadd

Taxxi u cejca

Kultant lanqas tkun trid temmen lil widnejk. Il-Hadd li ghadda kellna l-Ministru tal-Finanzi jghidilna b`ton papali li jekk il-poplu Malti jrid tishih fis-servizzi socjali irid ikun lest jaghmel tajjeb ghalihom b`zieda fit-taxxi.

Hasra li diskors bhal dan ma jinghadx qabel l-elezzjoni. Qabel l-elezzjoni il-weghda kienet cara li gvern nazzjonalista se jnaqqas il-piz tat-taxxi. Issa l-poplu Malti mhux differenti minn kwalunkwe poplu iehor. Aktar jiehu pjacir b`min jghidlu li m`hemmx problemi tant li jista` jehfief il-piz tat-taxxi milli min jghidlu li minhabba l-problemi finanzjarji tal-pajjiz hemm bzonn li nrossu ic-cinturin u jekk hemm bzonn jizdiedu t-taxxi. Ghalhekk min jurik id-debba qabel l-elezzjoni u jqabbizlek il-hamra wara ikun qed imur kontra il-bazi tad-demokrazija li teleggi gvern fuq il-bazi tal-manifest elettorali.

Tiftakru kemm kienu sawwtu lil gvern laburista li f`sentejn dahhal 33 taxxa` Tahsbu li Gvern Laburista kien gost u pjacir tieghu li jdahhal dawn it-taxxi Izda meta ssib pozizzjoni finanzjarja li thawwxek ghiduli x`tista taghmel`

Jien kont vicin hafna tal-Ministru Lino Spiteri fil-5 xhur li dam Ministru tal-Finanzi bejn Ottubru 1996 u Marzu 1997. Kont nara mill-qrib kemm kienet inkwetanti l-qaghda finanzjarja tal-pajjiz. Mhux biss ghaliex il-budget tal-Gvern li suppost kellu jkun ta` Lm32 miljun fil-fatt kien se jlahhaq Lm112 il-miljun, izda wkoll ghax wara l-bieb tal-Ministru fi kju kien hemm dawk responsablli mill-kumpaniji u korporazzjonijiet pubblici li lkoll kellhom storja ta sitwazzjoni finanzjarja ddisprata fil-korporazzjoni jew kumpaniji li kienu responsabbli minnhom. L-Enemalta, Il-Water Services Corporation, Gozo Channel, Drydocks u Shipbuilding, Win Cargo, Malta Gantry, Malta Countertrade. METCO` u tant u tant ohrajn. Kull fejn tmiss isib hajt sabih bil-gir kulurit izda bla tikhil warajh li hekk kif ittektek b`subghajk jikkrolla kollox.

Il-budget ta` l-1996 kellu previzjoni li jdahhal Lm110 miljuni` mil-VAT. Figuri vvintati.` Lanqas sal-lum minkejja li l-VAT ilha tahdem mill-1995 u minkejja li zdiedet fuq prodotti ohra bhal petrol u t-telfon ghadna ma wasalna ghal din il-figura ahseb w`ara kemm stajna ersaqna lejha fl-1996.

F`cirkonstanzi bhal dawn il-gvern laburista fiz-zewg budgets li ressaq kellu bilfors izid it-taxxi. Mhux hekk xtaq. Izda ic-cirkustanzi li hallewlu ta qablu ma hallewx ghazla. Izda dan il-Gvern ma ghandux din l-iskuza. Il-Ministru Dalli ilu Ministru tal-Finanzi mill-1992. Kien wieghed li se jnizzel il-budget deficit ghal 3%` sa l-1996 u minflok tellghu ghal 10%. Meta gvern laburista beda jghid li kien hemm il-problemi hu li kien jaf kollox minn gewwa beda jichad minkejja li messu kien jaf ahjar. Flok qal li Gvern laburista ma kellux alternattiva hlief li jzid it-taxxi beda jghajjru li zied 33 taxxa.

Illum li l-Ministru Dalli rega mill-gdid fil-kariga ma nehhiex hlief wahda minn dawn it-taxxi u ghamel hafna ohrajn. L-aktar hija l-VAT fuq il-petrol u z-zieda fil-bolla tan-National Insurance` li tolqot lil kulhadd bla ebda ghazla li jiffrankaha. Taxxa diretta fuq ix-xoghol.

Izda fil-programm elettorali mhux hekk wieghedna. Weghdna li ser inaqqas il-piz tat-taxxi. Minflok issa iridna nifirhu li fil-budget li gej habbar li mhux ser jgholli r-rati tat-taxxi u mhux ser jgholli l-petrol meta dawn diga ghollihom fil-budget li ghadda u meta d-dinja kollha qed tnaqqas it-taxxi.

Issa rridu naccettaw li jizdiedu t-taxxu waqt li jitnaqqru s-servizzi socjali.` Kieku l-Ministru tal-Finanzi dahal fil-kariga issa wiehed jifhem li hekk hemm bzonn. Izda dan ilu Ministru tal-Finanzi tmien snin b`waqfa biss ta` 22 xhar li matulhom tghidx kemm ikkritika` li qed jizdiedu t-taxxi. Dawn ma setghux ghajr tejjbu d-dhul tal-Gvern.

Flok jippontifika dwar li xejn m`hu b`xejn u li hemm bzonn nibdew inhallsu tas-servizzi li niehdu minghand il-gvern il-Ministru jrid l-ewwel ifehmna ghaliex dan ma ntqalx car fil-programm elettorali li wieghed li se jhaffef it-taxxi.

U mbaghad jammetti li kien huwa li wassal il-pajjiz f`dan l- istat` fejn biex infejqu l-problema tad-deficit qed inkunu kostretti nintaxxaw bla hniena u min fuq nippretendu li jigu in-nies fit-triq jaghtu prosit lil Ministru talli qed izid it-taxxi. Cajta sabiha!

Alfred Mifsud

Budget Anticipations

The Malta Independent

Budget Anticipations

Is this just a strange country or have the strategists of the political parties completely lost their balance`

In the run up to the presentation of the Public Budget for the year 2001, which would in normal circumstances take place within the next month or so, we are seeing both political parties adopting untypical positions.

The Opposition would normally be raising people`s expectations about what to expect from the budget especially once government spokesman keep stressing that the economy is registering substantial growth and all macro-economic targets are being met.` Raising people`s expectations would than leave a political dividend` when the actual budget measures are announced which cannot but take account of the still precarious position of public finances.

Instead the Opposition keeps conditioning people to expect further unpopular taxes from next budget as government has to continue turning the screw to fall within its medium term financial strategy and in order to finance the additional expenditure emanating from the maturing payments under the collective agreement for public employees. This is politically unwise` as actual measures, though hard, could be made to seem gentler by people who were positioned by the Opposition to expect something worse.

The Government on the other hand would normally be working to keep a lid on people`s expectations in this mid-term budget.` This is normally the time for unpopular measures to be taken reserving the goodies for the last couple of budgets before the` election.

Yet the Finance Minister seems to have made it his mission to inform one and all that the economy is moving just fine, that the public deficit` is coming down faster than anticipated and that his magic formula is generating economic growth in spite of the fact that at the micro level domestic oriented businesses are financially squeezed between` reducing demand and jammed cash-flow.` On the other hand export-oriented business is probably performing well but this is more the result of buoyant economic growth in trading partner countries rather than the magic wand which economic managers tend to take credit for.

Against this background the budget minister, as if in the throes of an election campaign, has assured us that income tax rates and` petrol prices will not be increased.

This was made to sound like manna from heaven for which we should be thankful to proficiency of our government in general and the minister in particular.

Yet increases in direct personal tax rates should not be` on the national agenda. Not even a Labour Government that inherited a financial mess found it opportune to upset the consensus about income tax rates being capped at 35%. Last budget contained the unsocial measures of flattening the tax bands to increase the tax` impact on middle income families and therefore the government has little room to manoeuvre in this area.

The price of petrol was increased in three out of the last four budgets and if the consumer is to be protected from further increases and Enemalta shielded from direct losses, nothing short of reduction of excise tax or VAT on petrol will deliver the goods.

All this means that for next year fiscal enforcement to increase the tax revenue without raising tax rates seems to be the name of the game. This will keep the everybody happy and square the circle except that there is a point beyond which sudden enforcement on a struggling tax-paying sector of the economy( the export sector is generally on tax holiday) becomes counter-productive as it would flatten long term economic growth. Are we inching or speeding towards this point`

Alfred Mifsud

Letter to the Editor - Reply to Wide Angle

The Sunday Times of Malta



Editor, The Sunday Times, Valletta

Dear Mr Grech,

Last Sunday`s Wide Angle contained an untruth about me which coming from the pen of someone as experienced as Lino Spiteri can hardly pass as a slip.

He stated

Konsensus basta tghaddi tieghu!

Il-Kullhadd

Konsensus ` basta tghaddi tieghu

Fi zmien ftit jiem` kellna zewg provi bil-fatti ta` kemm il-gvern nazzjonalista jew tilef rasu jew tant hemm tahwid fit-tmexxija li intilef kull sens ta` direzzjoni.

Jekk hemm xi haga li ghandu bzonn il-pajjiz hija li jigi mfittex konsensus kemm jista` jkun wiesgha fuq it-tibdil ekonomiku li hemm bzonn isir biex nimmordernizzaw u ma naqghux lura ma pajjizi ohra.

Filwaqt li hemm hafna affarijiet li m`hemmx qbil dwarhom u allura difficli li jinkiseb konsensus, hemm affarijiet ohra fejn jezisti qbil u allura jehtieg li dan il-qbil jigi konsolidat fi ftehim li jwassal ghal pjan ta` azzjoni.

L-aktar li ghandu dover li jfittex dan il-konsensus huwa l-gvern. Minkejja l-poter kollu li ghandu l-gvern xorta jista` jkun hafna aktar effettiv jekk fid-decizjonijiet` li jiehu` ifittex appogg wiesgha.` Appogg mil-Unions, appogg minn minn ihaddem u mhux lanqas appogg mill-oppozizzjoni li hija gvern alternattiv.

Minkejja impressjonijiet kuntrarji kien hemm diversi kazi fejn l-oppozizzjoni laburista tat konsensus lil gvern nazzjonalista fuq materji ta` natura nazzjonali. L-aktar ezempju li huwa car huwa fil-kaz tal-ligijiet tas-servizzi finanzjarji` li fl-1994 ghaddew mill-parlament bl-appogg ta` l-oppozizzjoni.` Dan il-fattur ta spinta lis-settur finanzjarju ghax il-barranin kienu attirati mill-istabbilita` li joffri konsensus biex ma jkunx hemm thezziz bla bzonn kull darba li tinbidel l-amministrazzjoni fi process demokratiku.

L-istess jista` jinghad ghas-settur turistiku. Dejjem kien hemm certu konsensus biex dan is-settur tant importanti jigi msahhah mill-istabbilita` tal-konsensus. Nista` nghid li proprju din is-sena stess il-mezzi tax-xandir tal-partit laburista, specifikamnet, Super One TV, kkopera ma l-Awtorita` tat-Turizmu biex xandarna bla hlas reklami biex jitheggeg l-gharfien fost il-poplu ta` kemm huwa importanti dan is-settur u kemm kull wiehed minnha irid jghin biex nipproteguh.

F`din il-legizlatura, minhabba dak li gara fl-1998 il-gvern isib izjed diffikulta` biex jakkwista il-kunsens ta` l-oppozizzjoni. Wiehed ma jridx jinsa li oppozizzjoni nazzjonalista wriet opportunizmu sfrenat meta fis-sajf ta` l-1998 ivvotat sahansitra kontra ligi tat-turizmu li dwarha kienet diga` esprimet konsensus fit-tradizzjoni li dan is-settur ikun kemm jista` jkun protett mill-pika politika.

Allura wiehed jifhem li wara esperjenza bhal din ikun ferm difficli li l-oppozizzjoni laburista tati xi konsensus fuq xi haga lil gvern wara l-mod opportunist li gabet ruhha l-oppozizzjoni nazzjonalista li ftahret permezz tas-segretarju generali taghha li waqqghu gvern elett mil-poplu.

Li jfisser li l-gvern, li xorta ghandu bzonn konsensus biex ikun effettiv, irid jaghmel sforz akbar biex jakkwista dan il-konsensus u jaghmel xi koncessjonijiet li mhux normali li jaghmel.

Izda qed jigri bil-maqlub. Il-Gvern taparsi ifittex konsensus mill-oppozizzjoni fuq materji li fuqhom hemm divizjoni ta` principju. Bhal fil-kaz tas-shubija fl-Unjoni Ewropeja. `Meta tkaza li l-oppozizzjoni mhux lesta tikkopera beda kampanja sistematika biex ikabbar l-istorja tat-tbaghbis tal-voti biex jiddestabilizza lil Leader Alfred Sant.` Tant telghalhom ghal rashom il-poter li hasbu li sahansitra ghandhom id-dritt li jaghzlu huma min imexxi l-Partit Laburista halli jkun possibbli li jiehdu l-konsensus li ghandhom bzonn fuq l-UE.

Meta gew ghas-si u no fuq konsensus iehor hareg il-veru karattru ta` kemm in-nazzjonailista iridu konvenjenza mhux konsensus.

L-ewwel kien hemm il-kaz tal-konfini elettorali tad-distretti. B`gest zghir il-gvern seta` accetta il-porposta ta` l-oppozizzjoni li jibghat ir-rapport lura lill-Kummissjoni Elettorali biex tirrevedih. Imqar ghal kirjanza ghax xorta il-gvern huwa car li qed jiddetta lil din il-Kummissjoni li fuqha ghandu l-maggoranza tan-nomini.

Imbaghad fuq il-kwistjoni ta` l-Agent President, materja simbolika li zgur ma` kienet tiswa xejn lil gvern li jaccetta l-proposta ta` l-oppozizzjoni.` Izda anke fuq materja daqstant insinjifikanti mhux biss il-gvern ifittex konfront izda jkompli jiggustifika dak li mhux gustifikat permezz ta` l-esponent ewlieni tieghu li joffri skuzi li lanqas jghoddu fid-dinja tat-tfal ahseb w` ara fis-serjeta` tal-politika.

X`inhu jwassal biex il-gvern nazzjonalista jaddotta policies daqshekk irrazzjonali` L-unika spjega hija li fil-partit nazzjonalista, wara l-faccata ta` ghaqda, qed tikkarga glieda nsensata ghall-poter bil-Prim Ministru jhoss ruhu taht attakk, u b`kontendenti ewlenin diga jarmaw it-truppi ghal-battalja li gejja. F`dan l-ambjent kullhadd jilghabha tal-qawwi u tal-bully u jfittex konsenus basta tghaddi tieghu!

Alfred Mifsud

Danish Doublespeak

The Malta Independent

Danish Doublespeak

The Danish EU referendum went the way it was predicted. The Danes, in no small measure, `voted against the adoption of the Euro as their official currency but more symbolically voted against the absorption of small states` sovereignty` by the EU bureaucracy dominated by France and Germany.

Prior to the referendum the Danes were warned in no uncertain terms by their own political corpse (demonstratinga rare across the board agreement to lobby for a yes vote) and by the EU structures that this would be a once in a life-time decision. If they reject the Euro they would be rejecting it forever,` was the clear warning given by whoever wanted to force the Danes to accept the Euro.

Not more than a few hours after the referendum result was officially announced and the 53% rejection of the Euro became an embarrassing judgement for the Danish government and the EU Commission, we had unashamed Danish double-speak.

The choice was no longer once in a life-time decision.` It became a temporary decision until the Danish electorate could be persuaded to vote yes in a subsequent referendum which could be put together at some time in the `future.

These yes or no referenda are becoming something of a joke. If the result is in line with that wished by Brussels than it is definitive and irreversible. If on the other hand the referendum goes against the will of Brussels than they` can keep on trying until they get the result they want, at which point in time the decision then becomes irreversible.

Who knows what would happen if say a referendum were to be held anytime soon in the UK to decide whether to proceed with their EU membership` Yet in spite of clear sentiments of dissatisfaction with the way the unelected Brussels bureaucracy keeps affecting the lives of the citizens, no one seems to suggest a referendum to give political effect to people`s wishes. Re-try referendum is only invoked `when people decide matters against the wishes of the big countries of the EU.

Locally we have had a taste `of `this referendum double speak. The Foreign Minister has correctly pointed out on more than one occasion that if the Malta referendum on EU membership would go against the government wishes,` they would have no` hesitation in organising forces to re-propose the matter in a subsequent referendum until the `right` electoral decision is achieved.

However local political puritans were `shocked` when Labour made it clear than a newly elected Labour government with a political mandate endorsing an EU policy very different from that of the present nationalist administration,` would not consider itself bound by the referendum result once Malta would still not have joined the EU in full membership terms.

Why the nationalist have a right to overturn a referendum result just as the Danish government seems bent to do with the full blessing of the EU Commission, whereas such right ought `not be available to a democratically elected labour government indicates that there are amongst those who still think that labourites are children of a lesser god.

Alfred Mifsud

Twemmini

Il-Kullhadd

Twemmini

Illum bdejna xahar gdid. Tlett kwart ta` l-ewwel sena tal-millenju telqet tigri. Dal-Gvern riesaq lejn nofs il-legislatura tieghu u z-zmien ghaddej bilgri. Dil-gimgha naghlaq 49 sena u ghalhekk hemm ragunijiet bizzejjed biex nieqaf u naghmel reflessjoni dwar twemmini.

Raguni ohra hija ghax ex-laburist deherlu li jien bil-kitbiet tieghi nuri twemmin differenti mit-twemmin laburista.` Li din il-kritika gejja minn xi hadd li ghadu jemmen li l-partit laburista ghandu jibqa` jitmermer sa ma jipprova li mhux tassew li l-hniezer itiru, `bizzejjed wiehed jifhem `kemm m`hemmx intenzjonijiet tajba fi kritika bhal din.` Izda x`fiha billi wiehed minn zmien ghal zmien jistqarr twemminu kif bhal insara naghmlu kull meta nirrectaw il-Kredu`

Jien nemmen li Malta ghandha tkun stat sovran u indipendenti hieles mill-bazijiet militari u ma tifforma parti mill-ebda blokk` militari. Nemmem li biex dan ikun possibbli irridu nibnu bazi ekonomika soda ghal pajjizna biex ma jigix ekonomikament dipendenti fuq min irid jerga jdahhlu fi blokk militari.

Nemmen li biex dan isir il-pajjiz irid ikun mibni fuq ix-xoghol, fuq il-bzulija u fuq l-efficejnza. Nemmen li pajjizna m`ghandux rizorsi x`jahli f`sussidji eterni li ma jindirizzawx is-sors tal-problema li twassal ghal htiega ta` dawn is-sussidji.

Nemmen li il-flus migbura mit-taxxi ghandhom jintefqu bl-akbar diskrezzjon u trasparenza u ma ghandniex inhallu pajjizna jkollu regoli ghal min jahdem mal-gvern laxki u komdi hafna u regoli iebsa u tqal ghal min jahdem mal-privat.` Nemmen li l-haddiema huma lkoll ahwa u li jghodd ghal wiehed jghodd ghall-iehor.

Nemmen li huwa zball madornali li l-pajjiz thalla jasal fir-rovina finanzjarja li twassal fiha li qed tittrasferixxi flus mis-settur privat li jistghu jintuzaw ghall-investiment u jmorru sempliciment biex il-gvern ikompli jberbaq u jonfoq waqt li l-pajjiz jihalla nieqes minn investiment mehtieg bhal fil-kas tat-toroq.

Nemmen li l-hela u l-inefficjenza, anke jekk ghal xi zmien joholqu` l-illuzjoni tal-benesseri, huma d-dudu li jsewwes` il-kapacita` taghna li nghixu bhala stat sovran u li nostnu is-servizzi socjali f`pajjizna.

Ghalhekk nemmem f`ekonomija soda, vibranti, efficjenti, moderna u kompetittiva f`dinja globali. Nemmen li dan jigi permezz ta` investiment produttiv li ghandu jghamlu s-settur privat li jigi mhajjar permezz ta` stabbilita industrijali u rati ta` taxxi diretti baxxi.

Nemmen li l-gvern ukoll ghandu jkun xempju ta` l-efficjenza biex ic-cittadini jkunu perswazi li flus li jhallsu f`taxxi qed jintuzaw sew specjalmet f`investiment socjali u infrastrutturali li jaghti bazi soda ghall-izvilupp.` B`hekk il-gvern ikollu dritt morali, `mhux biss legali biex jigbor it-taxxi dovuti kollha b`infurzar rett u sod.

Nemmen li huwa biss permezz ta` tkabbir ekonomiku li jista` jkollna sostenn tan-nefqa socjali tal-gvern bla ma jzid it-taxxi fuq ic-cittadini. Ghalhekk nemmen li l-gvern irid jaghti prijorita qawwija lill-erba` drittijiet naturali li ghandu bniedem indipendentement mil-qaghda ekonomika tieghu.`

Id-dritt tat-taghlim huwa dritt sagrosant u ghalhekk il-gvern irid jaghmel skejjel pubblici tajbin daqs jew ahjar minn dawk privati fil-livelli kollha ta` l-edukazzjoni.

Id-dritt tal-hajja permezz ta` servizz ta` sahha preventiv u kurattiv irid ikun efficjenti u effettiv halli min m`ghandux rizorsi xorta jkollu access ghal kura anke jekk forsi b`inqas komfort minn min ghandu l-flus li jhallas ghal kura privata.

Nemmen li l-bnieden ghandu dritt ghal abitazzjoni dicenti u min m`ghandux bazi ekonomika bizzejjed biex jahseb ghal rasu allura ghandu jigi pprovdut b`akkomodazzjoni socjali li jkollha l-istandards minimi tad-dicenza.

Nemmen fid-dritt tax-xoghol u tal-pensjoni wara x-xoghol. Nemmen li dan id-dritt irid ikun marbut mad-dmir ta` xoghol onest u efficjenti u nemmen li l-Unions ghandhom juru flessibilita` li jaccettaw metodi moderni ta` management basta jkun marbut ma programmi intensivi ta` tahrig ghal-haddiema biex tigi mghejjuna il-mobbilita` tal-haddiema u nimxu lejn kuncetti ta` permanent` employability milli ta` xoghol fiss tal-post sal-pensjoni.` Nemmen li l-ekonomija ghandha tkun vibranti bizzejjed biex tohloq opportunatijiet ta` xoghol gdid lill- haddiema li jintlaqtu meta industriji jew azjendi ohra inevitabbilmenti jghalqu jew inaqqsu n-nies u ghalhekk il-htiega ta` tahrig kontinwu.

Nemmen li l-istat ghandu jkun hanin ma min ma jistax jghin ruhu, il-marid, in-nies bi bzonnijiet specjali,` mal-fqar moderni frott is-single parenthood u l-familji mifruda.` Nemmen li pajjizna ma jistax ikompli jahrab mil-problema` socjali ta min iz-zwieg tieghu tkisser b`mod irreparabbli u bena relazzjoni gdida li l-istat ma jgharafx.

Ghax nemmen dan jien nemmen fis-socjalizmu demokratiku.

Alfred Mifsud