Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 7 INTERVIEW A look back at the best quotes from the weekly interviews with various protagonists from the political, social and cultural spheres MICHAEL BRIGUGLIO Sociologist Yet again, immigration is a major concern, according to Eurobarometer surveys; and the EU doesn't seem to be reaching the expectations of people in Malta, on that front. ALISON ZERAFA CIVELLI Parliamentary Secretary responsible for local government It was a Labour government that gave 16-year-olds the right to vote in general elections and other elections. Now we will see what the will of the people is. BERNARD GRECH PN leader My trust rating is getting better and better. Can it be bet- ter? Without a doubt, but I am not focused on myself, I am focused on the party and the country. GODFREY FARRUGIA Author e village feast creates an occasion where the community invites outsiders to join them during this special period, while also creating a spectacle for tourists. JOSEF VELLA UHM chief executive officer When we talk about Malta's population hovering some- where between 600,000 and 700,000 residents: we don't include all the tourists who come here annually. ADRIAN DELIA PN MP You have Robert Abela blaming Joseph Muscat; you have Chris Fearne blaming Konrad Mizzi; you have Joseph Mus- cat blaming hidden interests. Who will the people blame? IAN BORG Foreign Minister Our resolution is not perfect. But had we not negotiated to get an agreement on the wording we would not have even managed to get this resolution approved. NATALIE PSAILA Doctor It's obvious that sexual health and reproductive health is not high on the list for policymakers, because otherwise we would have had an updated sexual policy much earlier. NEIL FALZON Aditus NGO NGOs out at sea are saving lives. Let's face it: the Mediter- ranean has become Europe's largest cemetery. e amount of people dying each year, is simply staggering. JP FABRI Economist We've seen a boom in construction activity that is extreme- ly dependent on human resources. It's not service-based whereby your productivity per employee is much higher. ALAN DEIDUN Marine biologist e way the political system was designed, to get elected, if you stick to your principles, you will become unelectable. AARON FARRUGIA Transport minister At present, the world financial climate does not make sense for the government to continue looking at the metro project.