Relieving the taxpayer

Finance Minister Mr John Dalli made some very interesting statements last week when he was speaking at the launch in Malta of the British online betting company, Heathorns International.

Mr Dalli said that it is estimated that in the next three years betting companies will be employing around 500 people and that the government is expecting to net up to Lm8 million from such operations. This is good news indeed, and something the government would do well to encourage and develop further. The liberalisation of the telecommunications sector will not only solve the numerous "monopolistic" problems that the industry is facing today. Liberalisation is set to create a scenario that is attractive to foreign e-companies which are interested in using Malta as a back-office for their operations. There are three issues to be considered: taxation, employment and investment opportunities.

Starting from taxation. Online betting will generate over the next three years Lm8 million in income. This will no doubt help the government to reduce further the country's deficit. More than that, it will ease the burden on the Maltese taxpayer as foreigners will be contributing a considerable amount of money to the nation's coffers. Malta is an attractive location to set up business. Tax incentive packages are undoubtedly a factor that many foreign companies will be all too happy to take up. While taxation in the UK for online betting companies is 6.75 per cent, they only have to pay 0.5 per cent here in Malta. If the government manages to attract similar online operations to set up office in Malta, it can rest assured that a sizeable chunk of income tax revenues will be derived from foreigners, easing the burden on the Maltese.

More than 500 job opportunities are expected to be created thanks to online betting companies opening back-offices in Malta. The employment opportunities are enormous, however it will require the concerted effort of the government, constituted bodies and local businesses before this can occur.

The Malta Financial Services Centre is doing sterling work to attract foreign companies to Malta. Apart from tax incentive packages, the Maltese are hard workers, they learn quickly and most are highly skilled. What is needed now is to develop further the teaching of IT skills both at a technical and business level. Registering further success will depend on three main factors: The government must continue with its plans to liberalise the various sectors of the local economy, it must believe more in the "new economy" and encourage the growth of electronic commerce and a business-to-business environment using the Internet. Above all, it must realise that the only way to foster growth and employment is to make sure that the Maltese are given the necessary training.

What is needed now is a bit more will-power to change and introduce change. That online betting companies have set up shop in Malta is a good omen. The country has what it takes to become an e-hub in the Mediterranean. We just need to take action.

Funding the temples

Our unique heritage, the Neolithic temples, needs to be protected immediately or else it could be lost forever. This is a very serious matter and the government is concerned. The country's temples, which have been included in the World Heritage List, have been deteriorating for years. Successive administrations have never tackled the problem head on. Report after report revealed that the country's treasures had suffered near irreparable damage. The government is now considering covering the four major temples of Hagar Qim, Mnajdra, Ggantija and Tarxien with a protective tent or "umbrella roof". Great idea, but there is a catch. Constructing four tents will costs the government Lm4 million. Where is that money going to come from? The taxpayer?

Tourism Minister Dr Michael Refalo did not beat about the bush when speaking at a seminar last week. "This country needs millions, which it cannot afford, to put right the ravages of time and the elements which threaten all our Neolithic temples".

Fair enough, but there are two questions that need to be asked.

Why, in the first place, did successive governments take such a laissez-faire attitude even though it was obvious that a serious problem existed?

Secondly, if the government does not have the money to construct these tents, why spend millions on a millennium project when this money could have been used to protect the temples? Isn't the country's heritage of greater importance than the arts centre in Valletta?

We believe it is. Unfortunately, when it comes to priorities, there is never consensus in this country.