Government fails to address problems afflicting domestic economy – PN

The Nationalist Party expressed concern over the rate of exportation that has suffered a drop of 36% during October.

According to the Opposition, the statistics released by the National Statistics Office "confirmed" that the domestic economy and industries were facing difficulties which the government was not addressing.

"A reduction in exportation only means a reduction in the activity of industries and work," the PN said.

It added that the figures were worrying, especially when considering that a number of factories had announced they would be laying off a number of workers while others would start operating on a four-day week.

The PN added the situation was leading to a deterioration of the families' income while creating an element of uncertainty.

The Opposition's spokespersons - Mario de Marco, Tonio Fenech and Kristy Debono - said the statistics played down the Finance Minister's argument that the decrease in exportation would be the result of fuel re-exportation.

The trio said that once re-exportation of fuel is removed from the table, the rate of exportation would have still declined by 23%.

The PN insisted that the government must act now before it's too late.