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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 DECEMBER 2014 News 17 central to cultural activity' Coleiro Preca said an inclusive re- public expected the presidency to dismantle the artificial boundaries that prevent us from moving close to each other, and face one another. "This presidency will serve as a bridge so that people with diverse as- pirations, desires and visions, come together and translate their differ- ences into collaboration based on dialogue and true respect for each other. For this dialogue to take place, "different languages have to become one language, which utters the word solidarity in unison; different views become one view so that together, we can make a difference, our fears become our fear that the country is failing its vulnerable, and our aspi- rations become one aspiration, that fosters democracy and social jus- tice." She reiterated that society could not aspire to democracy "if together we do not create a framework of thinking and new actions, if the new order does not go beyond old prac- tices, which have hindered our way forward along the path of economic, social and environmental solidarity. "Genuine dialogue leads us to ques- tion: Who may speak and who may not? Who can be heard and who not? Who can dialogue with whom and from what position of power? "This presidency will be distin- guished through its efforts to move from rhetoric to action. In this re- gard, the presidency established a foundation to offer a permanent structure from where the presiden- cy, in a coherent and coordinated manner, may execute projects to cel- ebrate life and human dignity." Coleiro Preca sent a stern warn- ing against political discourse which minimises the dignity of persons on social benefits. "The social welfare system is crucial for people in this situation, and in no way should we allow our discourse to minimise their dignity, by depicting these people as parasites and there- fore must not be aided by the state. People in such situations are victims. Those abusing the system or evading taxes are not. "The latter are among the greatest enemies of a Republic built on em- ployment and solidarity." The President was alluding to re- cent political discourse tied to the presentation of Budget 2015 when finance minister Edward Scicluna, in a bid to highlight the government's crackdown on social benefits abuse, told parliament that "being a single mother is not a profession". Coleiro Preca, who always held social justice at heart, said poverty diminished human dignity and a fair and democratic republic could never tolerate thousands of people living in poverty, or at risk of poverty. "Whether we accept it or not, poverty affects us all, because it is through our taxes that poverty can be offset." She argued that the recognised as- sociation between education and poverty shows the limitations of education: "As stated by many socio- logical thinkers in the field, we can- not attribute to education, powers it does not possess. Education can con- tribute extensively, along with other stakeholders, but it cannot work in isolation." Coleiro Preca recalled that, 40 years ago, Malta pledged a repub- lic founded on work but today, the country was still far from fully realis- ing this oath. "Not only are there still thousands of unemployed people, but a number of workers are being exploited, working in hazardous or precarious conditions. "Not all employment gives dignity. A republic based on work should protect the dignity of the worker with the same zeal it gives to the statistics of employment. Industrial wellbeing is built on proper working conditions." The President said precarious em- ployment was a disease that not only undermined wellbeing, but destroyed individuals and families. Precarious employment, she said, hindered the level playing field among employers. "My appeal is that profit should never outweigh the urgency to give workers what is rightfully theirs; workplaces that assert workers' dig- nity." FIMBank p.l.c. is a licensed credit institution regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority and listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The Bank is a participant in the Depositor Compensation Scheme in Malta. Terms and conditions apply. 2132 2102 helpdesk@easisave.com www.easisave.com 2132 2102 2132 2102 No Hidden Fees or Bank Charges Easy, Flexible and Secure Visit our website, open your online bank account and start beneting from superior interest rates on your savings and xed term deposit accounts. 3 year: 3.00% 2 year: 2.85% 1 year: 2.50% Euro Fixed Term Deposit Minimum Deposit €1,000 Rates of interest are on a gross per annum basis Euro Savings Account Minimum Deposit €50 1.75 % Dignitaries at the Republic Day ceremony included Presidents Emeriti George Abela and Eddie Fenech Adami, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, Apostolic Administrator Charles Scicluna, Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, Deputy Speaker Censu Galea and former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi Alfred Pisani Mark Storace Immanuel Mifsud Marco Cremona