Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/834699
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2017 5 News Għal darb' oħra spalla ma' spalla Kandidat Laburista fuq is-7 u t-8 distrett Prof. Edward Kandidat Laburista t Laburista fuq is fuq is-7 u t-8 distrett Prof. Edward SCICLUNA +365 9963 2486 edward@edwardscicluna.com edwardscicluna.com THIS IS A PAID ADVERT cuts risk driving country to financial ruin he said, whilst retaining the current exemption for first time home buyers. Those who would rent property to persons on the social housing waiting list would be exempt from tax on rental income after entering into a 10-year rental contract. All pensions would be ex- empt from income tax under a PN government and young Gozitan families who remain or relocate to Gozo would re- ceive a €10,000 grant. Busi- nesses opening on the sister island would benefit from income tax exemptions of hundreds of thousands of eu- ros over a three-year period and Gozitan startups would be provided with a grant of up to €25,000, as well as hav- ing the employers' national insurance contribution reim- bursed during the first two years of operation. The PN has further prom- ised SSC refunds for workers in the tourism sector, he said, and proposed a maximum 10% income tax rate for work- ers earning under €20,000 and reduce income tax on part time work amongst a slew of tax-reducing incen- tives offered to various other segments of society. "Not to mention the bil- lions upon billions promised on roads, f lyovers, undersea tunnels and whatnot. Again it goes on and on." "I think we are all going to wake up on June 4th singing jingle bells, because Christ- mas would have come early," Cassola said. "Where are the funds for better schools, education, in- vestment in healthcare, the elderly and investment in clean energy and mass trans- port going to come from if all these rebates are going to be applied?" Cassar asked. There should be a debate on tax justice, he said, "but this is not the way to go about it." "We are interested in shift- ing the tax burden off the worker and on to businesses and industries that pollute, such as construction," Cassar said. "If we exclude all those who are evading taxes in Panama, Switzerland or the British Virgin Islands, if we exclude all those who PN and PL pro- pose to exclude from paying any taxes, who in this coun- try of ours is going to pay any taxes?" A discussion on taxa- tion was indeed necessary, he said, but should be geared to- wards more social justice and a cohesive community. "Shooting proposals left, right and centre to please everyone is irresponsible. PL and PN are endangering the provision of good public ser- vices through their Father Christmas politics." Arnold Cassola (right) said electoral promises made by mainstream parties are unsustainable Muscat calls on supporters to convince more people to vote CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "He wants to start by putting me in jail, and then he will turn on each and every one of you and pay you back," said Muscat. "Any- one who in some way feels like they are a part of this movement or feel that the country has moved forward, has no choice, is obliged even, not to stay home on Saturday." He insisted that even those that felt they had been let down, could not al- low the country to fall into the hands of Marlene Farrugia and the "coalition of confusion", while urging voters to vote as early as possible. Muscat said he was convinced that the Labour Party had the best plan and clearest principles for the coun- try. This he said, contrasted with the Nationalist Party which had a collec- tion of proposals that did not make sense, and which would lead the country down the wrong path. "Where others try to scare people, not only do we give hope, but we show in concrete terms that wealth will continue to come," he said. He accused the PN of scaremonger- ing by suggesting that the financial services and igaming sectors were struggling and would collapse if the Labour Party were to be re-elected. On the contrary, he said that despite fears over the gaming industry, the first four months of the year had seen an increase in investment in the sec- tor. "These are the same people that used to tell us that labour won't work," he added, pointing out that in addition to not being true, the country had regis- tered a surplus and record low unem- ployment. "Not only did we not need a bail- out but we made a surplus of €100 million last year," said Muscat, who insisted the PN did not have any ideas, and was intent on lying in or- der to win the election. He once again reiterated that he would resign if the conclusion of the Egrant inquiry links him to the company, and insisted that Busuttil would have to do the same. Muscat stressed that the govern- ment had signed a number of agree- ments for investment I the country, such as that signed with SR tech- nics. On the other hand, he said that while the government was work- ing hard to bring more work to the country, the PN was set on tarnish- ing Malta's name abroad. "Our principle is Malta, Malta first and above everything," said Muscat.