Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1462499
14 NEWS maltatoday | THURSDAY • 24 MARCH 2022 Clayton Bartolo Clayton Bartolo is minister for tourism and PL candidate on the 8th and 12th districts Victor Fiorini is Advocacy and Administration Officer Malta Cooperative Federation info@mcf.coop THE Labour Movement has always been about people. It was formed to give the working class a voice and has sought power in order to improve their lives. The results have changed Malta for the better, through the most progressive governments in our country's history. In the past nine years, we have ex- perienced an unprecedent period of economic growth, unemployement re- cords decreased to historic lows, yearly increase in pensions and stipends and new civil liberties that have given Mal- tese people a platform to live their life as them deem fit irrespective of race or sexual orientation. Who would have thought that 100 years on from its foundation, the La- bour Party in goverment would face Malta's greatest challenge since the Sec- ond World War. The COVID-19 pan- demic was a defining moment through which we have shown our perseverance to safeguard the lives and livelyhoods of the Maltese people. As a government, we have provided hope in the face of continuous obsta- cles in recent years. Let us not forget how, for two years, the government prioritised the distribution of wealth by sustaining families and business in- vestment through continous financial stimulus. Prime Minister Robert Abela's plan was to stabilise, encourage and – most of all – nurture confidence, so as to stimulate economic performance and hasten the economic recovery. We want our people to continue living the success we created in recent years, and should the country entrust us with the leadership of this country on Satur- day, we remain committed to building a prosperous nation in the years to come. Yes, education will be amongst the major pillars to build up a "knowl- edge-based" generation. It is the great- est legacy we can provide for children, beyond any monetary prestige. The Labour Party is an evolving ve- hicle that does not settle for the status quo. This is what is at stake in this gen- eral election. A choice between a future with Labour or going back to the past. Our job is not to divide but to bring people together. This was shown in recent turbulent times: when we stood together our country worked and is still working for all of us. Malta is our home and as this election campaign is coming to a end, what I will remember most are the faces of people I met from one corner of this nation to the other. The compassion, love and decency shown by them makes me so hopeful for our future. It also makes me more determined than ever to work and be part of another Labour Government that reflects those values and lifts up the Maltese people. The Labour Party remains the viable alternative to accelerate and continue the progressive programme this coun- try voted for back in 2013. The good news is that this movement has what it takes to continue taking this country forward for more exciting times ahead. Malta, together let's make it happen. Make it happen A co-operative consensus BY their very nature, electoral cam- paigns feature controversies, arguments and counter arguments, as well as pro- posals by political parties that enable the electorate to compare and contrast. Now that all parties have officlally pre- sented their full electoral proposals, we can now attest that with regards to pro- posals concerning co-operatives and the role of the co-operative business model, there is an all-round concensus. The Malta Co-operative Federation has been engaging with all political par- ties and meeting individual candidates since November last year. We argue that the next legislature is an opportunity for Malta to really unlock its co-operative potential. We have in- vited all political parties to include this in their proposals. The Malta Co-operative Federation is glad to say that Partit Laburista, Partit Nazzjonalista, ADPD and Volt Mal- ta have all concurred. Their political manifestos all commit to the use of the cooperative model in all sectors of the Maltese economy. We find this con- sensus refreshing, especially at a time where political tit-for-tat is so predom- inant. Co-operatives are democratic busi- nesses that are controlled by their members – be it workers, consumers, producers or communities. Like any other business, they run to make a surplus and are present in all areas of the economy: IT, media, con- sultancy, orchestras, maritime, finance, restoration, football clubs, factories, schools, tourism, hospitals – the beauty of co-operatives is that their flexibility makes them a great fit to virtually every area of the economy. Why should we be fostering a co-oper- ative economy? First of all, co-operatives are business- es whose members come together to achieve their common economic, social and cultural goals. Co-operatives are based on seven basic principles, built on values of self-help and responsibility, equity and solidarity. Cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, so- cial responsibility and caring for oth- ers. They contribute to a fairier econ- omy, where people do not just generate wealth, but also become protagonists in accruing its benefits, be they economic, social or environmental. Members have a direct say in how the business is run, and wealth generat- ed from their output is shared. Co-ops provide meaningful employment and fair pay, where the emphasis is on the person and not on financial muscle. They provide their members with the opportunity to be part a of a team who pool their resources and benefit from each other's diverse talents to run a business. This also applies to social co-opera- tives, where members agree that the net surplus at the end of each year is not distributed to them individually, but is used for re-investment in social causes. There is nothing stopping any one of us from being part of a cooperative business and reap the benefits of our own work. All we need is an environ- ment that fosters cooperation, and a creative mindset. Through co-operatives, Malta can harvest opportunities that provide for better quality of life, as well as a fairer, more participative economy. We are glad that political parties are on board with this concept. We look forward to further engage with govern- ment, and indeed, all stakeholders, in making these proposals a reality. In the meantime, the Malta Co-oper- ative Federation continues to assist and handhold groups of persons and organ- isations to work together on a business idea, and create a viable co-operative business. For more information, please contact the Federation on info@mcf. coop. Victor Fiorini There is nothing stopping any one of us from being part of a cooperative business and reap the benefits of our own work. All we need is an environment that fosters cooperation, and a creative mindset