Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday said that, during summer, the Labour Party will work on a plan that will regenerate and give new life to the Grand Harbour Area.

Dr Sant, who was speaking at a public dialogue meeting in Zejtun, said the Grand Harbour is one of Malta’s greatest assets which has great potential. He pointed out that other countries put their ports to full use and that the same should be done with the Grand Harbour.

“Throughout summer, the Labour Party will work on a full development plan for the Grand Harbour area with the help of all the surrounding communities, local councils, businesses and anyone who wants to pitch in,” said Dr Sant.

Furthermore, he said, the Labour Party is working on another plan that will tackle the problems in the tourist zones of Bugibba, St Paul’s Bay and Qawra.

The Opposition Leader mentioned the regional plan that was implemented by the Labour government for the south of Malta between 1996 and 1998. He said the plan included various sectors of tourism, work and environment. “However, the Nationalist government did not use this plan and put it aside,” said Dr Sant.

He pointed out that following the general election, a Labour government would continue focusing on different regions in Malta and Gozo to continue creating more jobs while balancing the social aspect.

Furthermore, he added, the Labour Party believes in working for social development, education, environment and communities that are based in the south of Malta. “Tourism is an important pillar for Malta’s industry – especially in the south of Malta,” said Dr Sant.

He spoke about his recent visit to Marsascala where he met various members of the business community and spoke to them about the negative impact of the closing down of the Jerma Palace Hotel.

“The Jerma Palace was not only a hotel but it also created opportunities for the Marsascala business community. However, knowing this, the Nationalist government still let the largest hotel in the area sink,” said Dr Sant. He said that the government should have seen the hotel in a wider context, adding that it is its duty to allow tourism to spread to all parts of Malta.

“It is not fair that the south of Malta is kept as an industrial area. Yet the government decided to wash its hands of the affair and decided that it was not important to have a large hotel in the region,” said Dr Sant.

He pointed out that the Labour Party is different from the Nationalist government, which makes promises that it can never keep.

On Worker’s Day, the Labour Party wants to commemorate the achievements of the past while celebrating with all those who are employed, and their families, he said.

Dr Sant invited all young people to give their support to the Labour Party, sending a clear signal that Labour is working for their future aspirations.

“Labour’s message is still relevant as the majority of the Maltese and Gozitans want a change that only a Labour government can give,” he said.

He pointed out that there are hard-core Nationalists who want change, even though they still want the Nationalist Party to remain in government. “They want the government to change because they are fed up of wrong decisions that led the country to a dead end,” he said.

However, said the Opposition Leader, the country needs a change that can only be attained with a Labour government that will give it the reforms that it needs.

He also mentioned the recent clash between the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) editorial board and board of directors.

“The controversy is not about who will appear on PBS but about programmes that are worth thousands of liri,” he said.

MLP deputy leader Charles Mangion said that even though the Nationalist government boasts that the national debt decreased during 2006, statistics clearly show that the interest on national debt increased by Lm2 million.

He queried how sustainable public finances are when the interest on national debt has increased and said that the national debt is what it is today because the government sold the country’s main assets in an incompetent way.

Dr Mangion mentioned several examples and said that Mid-Med Bank was sold at a very low price, that the privatisation of Maltapost was disastrous and that the Nationalist government lost control when it sold Malta International Airport and had to suffer the consequences when it had to decide about low cost airlines.

Furthermore, he said, no one knows what is going to happen to the land in Qawra even though Industry, Investment and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt had said, over a year ago, that the government was going to keep the land.

He pointed out that Dr Gonzi had said, in the last four years, that the expenses of many government authorities, foundations and entities were going to be reduced. However, with an upcoming general election, the government threw caution to the wind and these expenses have now run to over Lm2 million.

Labour spokesperson for social protection Karl Chircop said the Nationalist government does not believe in the manufacturing industry even though it constitutes at least 20 per cent of the Maltese economy.

“During the last 10 years, the number of workers in the manufacturing industry decreased from 30,000 to slightly over 18,000,” said Dr Chircop.

He pointed out that the country is losing its competitiveness because of the red tape, excess expenses and heavy taxation system.

“Only the Nationalist government is responsible for this and is contributing to the country’s decreasing competitiveness,” he said.