Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1528057
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2024 NEWS LOCALITIES cannot become liveable localities if services can- not keep up with demand and fail to protect people's lives, Na- tionalist Party leader Bernard Grech said this week. The opposition leader, who was addressing a dialogue meet- ing in Nadur, Gozo, said that ap- plies both to local plans and the Gozo airstrip. "We are in politics to make people's lives better. We want our localities to improve. Vi- brant localities not only contrib- ute to the well-being of residents by providing a better quality of life, but they also serve as a source that generates economic growth," he said. "We need localities that be- come the cradle of the Maltese and Gozitans, places where we can once again enjoy living." Grech spoke about the quality of life currently offered by locali- ties and listed seven points relat- ed to the environment: • The need for absolute transparency when the Government makes deci- sions that impact the envi- ronment and development • The need for open discus- sion, not decisions made behind closed doors. The Government cannot im- pose its will and expect us to accept it, or only listen to its close allies • The PN supports sustain- able development that en- hances the environment, not haphazard develop- ment that degrades it; we want an environment in which people can live hap- pily • Initiatives should aim to improve people's quality of life, not cause them dis- tress and inconvenience • We want vibrant commu- nities where people can meet and enjoy life, not where everyone is frustrat- ed in traffic • We need development that considers the long term, not thoughtless construc- tion • We require projects and initiatives that improve connectivity, but these must be well-planned and account for other infra- structure needs, such as electricity, lighting, water, drainage, and roads. Grech also spoke of the need to be competitive every day. "We must be competitive now before we find ourselves at risk of losing our competitiveness because then it will be too late," he said. "With the tax reduction measures being proposed, a new Nationalist Government would ensure everyone benefits from more money in their pockets, thus strengthening our country's competitiveness." Grech mentioned a number of measures aimed at ensuring that parents, workers, and the self-employed end up with more money in their pockets. These include reducing the parent tax rate so that parents start paying less tax; creating a preferential rate for parents whose children wish to continue studying, regardless of how long it takes; and providing a new al- lowance for parents who do not pay tax due to low income, those living on widow's pensions, and those who do not work and thus do not benefit from the income tax reduction. Grech also emphasised the im- mediate need for the Govern- ment to stop taxing the Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). He pointed out that the cost of living increase that will be an- nounced will compensate for the extra money spent this year. "This means the Government has already taxed us," he said. "It does not make sense to pay tax again on what we have already spent." Grech highlighted measures being proposed by the PN, including tax credits for the self-employed and the private sector, which he said would en- courage more investment in workers and in the services or products they offer. He said Maltese and Gozitans would enjoy a much better life if they are given back their locali- ties and if more money is left in their pockets. And a new Nationalist Gov- ernment will do just that, he said. Also speaking during the dia- logue meeting, architect Edward Scerri and lawyer Nadia Vella fo- cused on how Gozitans deserve a better quality of life, especially with regards to the environment and open spaces for families in Gozo. People in Gozo also deserve better access to various services that truly address their needs, including those related to the courts, they said. Putting more money in the pockets of the Gozitans and Maltese, and giving them the country they want to live in In a public dialogue in Nadur, PN leader Bernard Grech highlights measures put forward by his party aimed at reducing taxes for parents and workers, and to revive localities as the cradle of all Maltese and Gozitans PN leader Bernard Grech (top) at a dialogue meeting in Nadur, which was also addressed by architect Edward Scerri and lawyer Nadia Vella (right)