It’s decision time again. On May 30, the people will choose their government for the next legislature. Prime Minister Robert Abela is seeking his second term. The Nationalist Party has been in opposition since 2013 and has had five leaders since then. Alex Borg has, from the day he was elected PN leader, said in no uncertain terms that he will win. Despite consistently positive polls for the Labour Party, Prime Minister Robert Abela has downplayed suggestions that a Labour victory is a given. Abela states that trust must be won, and until May 30, we shall continue to explain to the people that only Labour can continue to guarantee economic success.
Over the past four years, despite unprecedented geopolitical turbulence, Malta has had the fastest-growing economy in the European Union. Our positive track record speaks for itself.
As a Labour movement, we are determined to make Malta better and ensure that the economy continues to grow so families will enjoy an even better quality of life.
The coming four weeks will give people the opportunity to understand our vision for Malta better and contrast it with the chaotic Nationalist Party. In this first week of the electoral campaign, the Prime Minister announced several ambitious proposals that will make a hugely positive impact on people’s lives. Labour’s proposals are measured, costed, and fully implementable.
In the first week of this electoral campaign, the negative attitude of Alex Borg and the Nationalist Party stood out. Rather than offering constructive proposals or forward-looking ideas, Borg and the PN insist on being negative and reactionary. The more things change, the more they remain the same …
Workers’ Day
Today, in Valletta, we celebrate Workers’ Day at a mass event organised by the Labour Party. Thousands of people are expected at Castille Square to pay homage to Malta’s hard-working and resilient workforce, and to show their support to Prime Minister and Labour Leader Robert Abela, who for the past four years steered Malta successfully through fierce storms. This is the Prime Minister who gave and shall continue to ensure peace of mind for workers and their families. He is tried and tested, and he did a tremendous job in giving Malta stability and economic success. The people know that. This evening, we shall demonstrate our appreciation through a well-deserved show of force.
Manoel Island, and Fort Tigné
This week, the MIDI shareholders gave their approval for Manoel Island and Fort Tigné to return to the people. The Labour government negotiated hard to ensure this landmark moment. I am honoured to have had a key role in this decision, as the Minister responsible for public land. The negotiations were delicate, but our resolve to return Manoel Island and Fort Tigne to the people was stronger. We entered negotiations with the company first seeking €78 million in reimbursement for expenses related to Manoel Island, including restoring Fort Manoel and building an electricity distribution center, to name a few.
We stood firm and refused to pay more than what we believed was fair, and in the end, we succeeded. We agreed to pay just over half of the requested amount-€43 million.
In 2000, a Nationalist Party administration gave MIDI control over the island for 99 years. The plan was to transform the area into a mixed-use project. What followed, however, was a saga of delays, changing plans, and growing dissatisfaction. The newly approved agreement, valued at around €43 million, effectively cancels part of that concession and returns the land to the State. The latest development is thanks to the Labour government’s determination to return this land to the people, and the admirable work done by civil society organisations.
Manoel Island, a site rich in history and potential, shall now become a space accessible to the public. This is an unprecedented decision that puts a large tract of historical land back into public ownership. It is an important step towards returning the sites to Maltese families.
I would like to sincerely thank Prime Minister Robert Abela and the Cabinet of Ministers for their support and the Lands Authority for the professional and serious work it has carried out. We gave our word, and we will keep it. We always do.
Birżebbuġa St Peter’s F.C
The promotion of Birżebbuġa St Peter’s F.C. to the Maltese Premier League is more than a significant football milestone; it reflects resilience, persistence, and belief. For decades, Birżebbuġa existed outside the top tier, making this breakthrough especially meaningful. Their promotion to the highest level of Maltese football isn’t a matter of luck, but hard work, belief, dedication, and steady progress. This is something worth recognising.
Mary Grech
The passing of Mary Grech is more than the loss of a beloved public figure; it is a quiet reminder of a way of living that feels increasingly rare. Mary’s legacy speaks less about fame and more about perspective. She was a woman who witnessed decades of change, from the birth of Maltese television to the modern digital age yet held onto a grounded sense of gratitude. That, perhaps, is her most enduring lesson.
Her story challenges us to reconsider what we value. Are we measuring life by milestones and recognition, or by the ability to appreciate ordinary days? While Mary is rightly remembered as one of the early faces of Maltese broadcasting, her deeper impact lies in how she helped shape a cultural identity during a formative time for the media in Malta.
My deepest condolences to her loved ones.
