AD chairman Harry Vassallo said “it is entirely incomprehensible how, on the one hand, the government defines tourism as a priority sector in the local economy, but on the other hand it has ruthlessly slashed the MTA budget without any discussion with the Malta Hotels and Restaurants’ Association,” said Dr Vassallo.
AD finance spokesman Edward Fenech said “this is further evidence of the typical rash attitude of the government when faced with the financial crisis it has put our country in. Government finances are evidently out of control. We stressed the importance of compiling a strategy for dealing with the country’s deficit in a report presented to Dr Gonzi last week.
“We reiterate our willingness to collaborate with the government in arriving at a sustainable and realistic solution to severe problems in he management of public funds and we urge the Malta Labour Party to contribute to the debate,” he said.
Arnold Cassola, AD’s candidate for the European Parliament, said “the three principles of good governance are the ability to prioritise, plan and perform, and clearly the Nationalist government is showing gross incompetence in all three.”