“The Government looks at you as the main engine through which this country can continue to change and reform itself for the better.” This was the main message of Prime Minister Robert Abela during another session of the Youth Advisory Forum where other youth organizations were represented by young people who spoke at the meeting that discussed the Budget.
At the end of another discussion after listening to the young people in Castile, the Prime Minister supported the importance of the involvement of young people as a spur for objective perspectives and fresh ideas. This is even more so as today the Government is in a position to push a policy that gives priority to quality over quantity.
Here the Prime Minister pointed out a number of themes that are crucial for the daily life of quality for the Maltese Gozitan people, in the background of more decisions that ensure sustainable economic growth and added value investment in our country.
Key among these themes was that of the environment, as Dr. Abela stressed that a Government led by him will continue to give priority to the environment and the creation of public spaces. “I stressed and insisted that entities like Project Green and the Department for Public Works work more and more closely together. So that in every project we do we promote sustainability,” claimed the Prime Minister.
Dr. Abela also addressed subjects that were given prominence in the Budget for next year including mental health. In fact, the Prime Minister said, “We will not rest until we see conditions and diseases related to the brain treated the same as other diseases. It is precisely for this reason that we have announced concrete measures to help people identify mental health problems better and as early as possible. We will bring the mental health services very close to the people, in the localities, together with the Local Councils.”
Regarding the sports field, the Prime Minister claimed that here too the Government has seen to introduce the measure of membership in a gym for those who are between 18 and 20 years old as a message that physical activity is the culmination of ‘ a healthy life that deserves the importance it deserves in the country’s list of priorities.
“We want to start it before the one who has turned eighteen years old. We started a pilot project and in two more years we want to see all the colleges active – so that our students have physical activity every day,” pointed out the Prime Minister as he also mentioned measures that push for a change in culture, including more reading.
The Prime Minister concluded by saying that while he looks ahead to see young people at the decision table in the meantime this Government will continue to strive to have a stable and solid economy and society.
Photo: OPM
