MEP candidates take part in debate at MCAST

MEP candidates from the three main political parties took part in a debate at MCAST Paola campus this afternoon. They discussed, among other things, the creation of jobs for MCAST graduates, the promotion of musically-inclined youngsters at a European level and whether the candidates would have any issue voting against their party..

Present for the event were Labour candidates Cyrus Engerer, Deborah Schembri and Miriam Dalli, PN representatives Stefano Mallia, Jonathan Shaw and Helga Ellul, and Arnold Cassola from Alternattiva Demokratika.

Engerer said that one of the roles of an MEP was to lobby for more investment in students and businesses so that even those with basic skills could find employment, whilst Dalli stressed the importance of students receiving proper guidance as to which career fields they should enter.

Mallia said that MCAST served as a platform for students to enter into up-and-coming sectors such as online gaming. "Our role is to help create the right environment for people to find such work," he said.

Ellul seconded this statement by saying that it was not the job of politicians to create jobs, but rather it was their responsibility to assess what jobs were needed and what sectors needed work, and consequently investing in those areas.

Asked whether they felt MCAST was a 'second-class institution', when for instance compared to the University of Malta, the candidates were united in dismissing this notion.

Describing MCAST as a 'success story', Shaw said that many people's perception of the institute had improved over the years.
Mallia assured students that he saw no distinction between MCAST and University. "MCAST is certainly not a second division school," he said. "The economy is very dependent on you."

Cassola said that the country needed "a variety of talents" whilst Ellul outlined the importance of gaining an education in the applied subjects.

On her part, Schembri emphasized the importance of apprenticeships, whereby students could 'significantly gain' from hands-on experience.
When asked if they would have any problem voting against their European party, if elected, the candidates all replied in the negative, stressing that they would always vote in favour of the Maltese. "At the end of the day, it is the interest of the Maltese which should interest an MEP over anything else," Engerer said.

One student asked which areas they would be interested in working in, if elected. Schembri highlighted human and civil rights as her main interest, Cassola cited international affairs and Ellul referred to her business background as being able to help her in the industry and innovation sectors. Shaw said that health and sports were areas which particularly interested him, Mallia cited air quality and the 'increasingly fragile' agriculture sector, Engerer highlighted EU funds and Miriam Dalli referred to energy.

Lastly, the candidates were asked how they would go about promoting the local music scene outside of Malta. Engerer said that he would like to reintroduce 'Jum Malta' in Brussels - an event which showcased various local talent in the EU capital, whilst Shaw described MEPs as being the 'bridge' between local talent and Europe. Mallia believed that MEPs could make Europeans more aware of such talent and Cassola seconded this, citing alternate cultures of music as areas which could use promotion.