Thursday is business day for the English-language media in Malta and most of the Editors make a case for supporting the economy and safeguarding employment in parallel with efforts at containing the COVID-epidemic.
The Times’ Editorial looks at the economic cost imposed by the COVID-19 epidemic, with the hospitality industry suffering the biggest blow following the cancellation of numerous flight and people avoiding restaurants, pubs and such establishments.. The Editor argues that safeguarding employment until the economy starts to recover should be the guiding principle for using taxpayers’ money judiciously.
The Independent mirrors its counterpart’s sentiment, adding that although health must be prioritized at all times, the economic concerns must also be considered. It refers to requests by the Chamber of Commerce for an assistance package for businesses to mitigate liquidity issues. The Editor however insists that business must do it part and they should be coming up with plans rather than expecting all support to come from taxpayer money.
Business Today also makes a case in favour of economic support to affected businesses with effort in this sense needing to be as drastic as those being used to combat the diseases. Businesses need concrete arrangements with banks and utility companies to have loan and bill payments deferred without penalty. Government must also step in to sustain wages in those sectors where layoffs are a stark possibility. The Editor recalls similar support given in 2008, with the added benefit of a better public financial position which gives government more leeway to act meaningfully.
The Business Weekly chooses not to focus on economic arguments and insists that the national duty is to flatten the curve of infections. In this context, it chastises the nonchalant attitude taken by a number of people who were openly disregarding self-quarantine and welcomes Government’s change in approach to start “wielding the big stick”.
L-Orizzont appeals for calm during these challenging times and expresses its utmost conviction that in Malta, the authorities have the necessary experiences to fight this virus. It reminds its readers that so far all cases of coronavirus identified on the island were imported, hence no local transmission took place. The Editor concludes that the Prime Minister’s re-assertions that health will take utmost priority at all times offers peace of mind.
In-Nazzjon veers off the coronavirus debates and focus on other social troubles afflicting the island, focusing on the increasing cost of living, homelessness, the drastic increases in rental prices which have reached levels seen in cities such as Dublin and Berlin, and the lack of social justice.
