Int Malta: The stability that protects our dreams

Clint Camilleri

Gozo and planning minister

In public life, slogans matter only when they are anchored in people’s everyday lives. For me, the words “Il-ħolma tiegħek. Il-proġett tagħna” are not a campaign line. They describe what Labour has consistently tried to do for Malta and Gozo; take the aspirations of ordinary families and turn them into practical, funded and lasting change.

This general election is taking place at a serious moment for our country. Since the pandemic, the world has moved from one shock to another; war, inflationary pressures, energy uncertainty, disruption in supply chains and growing insecurity. In such moments, the first duty of government is not noise. It is steadiness.

That is what Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Labour government have offered. While other countries saw families and businesses exposed to sudden energy and fuel shocks, the Maltese Government protected its people. We did not allow international turbulence to become domestic panic. We absorbed pressures, safeguarded jobs, kept investment moving and defended the peace of mind that every parent, pensioner, worker, student and entrepreneur deserves.

This was possible because Labour built a strong economy. A strong economy is not an abstract statistic. It is the reason pensions can rise, stipends can be strengthened, parents can be supported, schools can be improved, health services can be sustained, connectivity can be enhanced, fiscal measure to support young people to buy their first home can be introduced and essential prices can remain stable. Economic strength gives a country choice. Labour used those choices to protect people.

For Gozo, this matters profoundly. Our island has its own character, challenges and potential. We believe in Gozo as a living island of villages, where progress must improve wellbeing, protect identity and create opportunity close to home. That is why Labour’s proposals for Gozo are concrete, ambitious and deliverable.

Over the next three years, we will complete the programme of 100 new residential roads in Gozo. Better roads are not simply about asphalt; they are about safer neighbourhoods, accessibility and dignity in every locality.

We will also strengthen the foundations of Gozo’s future. Having made Gozo independent in water production, we will now reinforce electricity connectivity through a new submarine cable between Malta and Gozo, serving as an interconnector between the islands, together with new distribution centres. This investment gives families and businesses confidence.

Connectivity remains central. Labour will make the Gozo ferry free for Maltese and Gozitan passengers travelling on foot between the islands. For Gozitans using the Fast Ferry for work or study, the annual grant will rise to €800. We will invest €130 million so that the Gozo Channel fleet reaches five vessels by 2029, while modernising existing vessels and improving freight links. Our aim is simple; less waiting, more reliability, and more time for what matters.

Our commitment also reaches classrooms, homes and families. Within the next five years, we will continue with our Gozitan schools modernising program, because Gozitan children deserve the best environment in which to learn. Our students will benefit from a 15% stipend increase, a €1,000 grant for educational experiences abroad, and a tax-free kick-start on the first €30,000 of income during the first three years of full-time work or start-up activity.

First-time buyers will receive stronger support, over and above the already established schemes, including wider stamp duty relief, refunds on searches and notarial expenses, and the My First Home scheme. Families will benefit from better parental leave, a stronger birth bonus and greater support for children with disabilities or neurodivergent needs. Pensioners too have a clear guarantee. With a Labour government, pensions will rise by €50 per week over the next legislature, including cost-of-living increases, while widows will receive stronger protection.

This is the difference between a politics of slogans and a politics of results. Labour has already shown that it can steer Malta through turbulent times. With Robert Abela’s proven leadership, competence and calm judgement, the Labour Party remains by far the best choice to continue securing stability, prosperity and peace of mind.

For Gozo and for Malta, the direction is clear. You are central to our commitment. Your dream is our project.