Accusations of corruption and lying made yesterday morning by Opposition Leader Alfred Sant were yesterday evening strongly rebutted by the government in a string of statements issued through the Department of Information.

During a party activity in Qormi, Dr Sant said that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is defending ministers who are lying to the Maltese people in and out of Parliament and, by acting in this way, he is subjecting himself to blackmail by the same ministers.

Dr Sant said the Prime Minister’s promise of a new style of leadership upon taking office has not been fulfilled and, instead, the country’s political administration had gone from bad to worse.

But in a counter-statement, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that allegations that had been made had been referred to the police for investigation. People had been found guilty of corruption and others had been charged, while others had made completely false accusations with the aim of making financial gain.

Three ministers mentioned by Dr Sant yesterday also issued statements denying his accusations. (See story on page 2)

In the morning, Dr Sant spoke extensively about the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) officials who are close to Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett and who have been allowed to keep their job although they have been found guilty of bribery.

The Opposition Leader said Minister Mugliett had said in Parliament that this decision was taken “collectively”, but the authority’s former CEO Gianfranco Selvaggi said he was told by the minister to reinstate the employees while chairman Joe Gerada denied that he and his board had anything to do with the decision.

He said that a minister who defends someone and is found to be lying should either resign or else be kicked out by the Prime Minister.

Instead, said Dr Sant, the Prime Minister had defended this minister. The Labour leader said ministers can file all the libel cases they want against him because he is not afraid.

The Opposition Leader also spoke about the alleged bribery case involving Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) officials who issued mariners’ licences.

He said Communications Minister Censu Galea on 24 May was briefed by MMA chairman Marc Bonello; however, on 5 June when questioned in Parliament by Labour Whip Joe Mizzi, Mr Galea denied any knowledge of the matter.

Dr Sant also commented about the case involving an official from Health Minister Louis Deguara’s private secretariat, who allegedly accepted payments for helping people to be boarded out.

The minister on 27 June had said that the person had been sacked; however, it had been revealed that he had continued to turn up for work.

The MLP leader fired a broadside also towards Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela who, he said, used Castille letter-headed paper to carry out private work.

He also asked whether Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina had taken action about an article penned by Housing Authority chairman Marisa Micallef on The Malta Independent on Sunday (24 June) wherein she alleged she was offered 200 flats in order to help a group of businessmen to obtain a permit to develop a scheduled part of Malta. He asked whether Ms Micallef had informed the police or whether she can reveal who the businessmen are.

In his reply, Dr Gonzi said the Opposition Leader did not seem to care about the efforts the government was making to strengthen public administration and to take steps against those who were caught abusing.

The Labour opposition only wants to shift its attack on those who were doing their duty by taking steps against alleged abusers, the Prime Minister said.

The government expressed its solidarity with the heads of government departments and agencies in their efforts to have a serious and transparent administration, and condemned the opposition’s intimidation. It is clear that the country’s problem is that the opposition does not have a vision for the country, no plan for the future and is completely lacking in political substance.

On other matters, the Labour leader criticised heavily the shuttle service by bus to and from Mater Dei Hospital, which is very efficient and punctual; however, it does not carry any passengers since the hospital is not currently functioning.

The prices of medicine and food are rising, said Dr Sant, prompting the need for price monitoring. Slovenia, which has introduced the euro on 1 January, did not register an increase in inflation in January, but did so five months later. This means that the euro introduction can lead to a price hike later than expected. To this end, he promised to support the government if a price monitoring mechanism is put in place once the euro is introduced.

Dr Sant also suggested the introduction of more consumer rights representatives within the National Euro Changeover Committee.

He announced that in the coming week, the MLP will ask all local councils to send two proposals for projects that need the help of the central administration and if feasible, the party will pledge to help out in these projects if it is elected in government.

Deputy Leader Charles Mangion heavily criticised the Public Administration Bill and said Prime Minister Gonzi should not be offended that the MLP does not agree with it.

He cited a number of cases of maladministration in order to defend his belief that the bill is lame. Of these, he spoke about those matters expounded upon by Dr Sant as well as mentioning corruption allegations put forward by former Nationalist Party president Frank Portelli in connection with Mater Dei Hospital.

Dr Mangion criticised the Prime Minister for his mismanagement of the tourism inter-ministerial committee. He said that the St Paul’s Bay area has been ignored and has been brought to public attention only through an MLP initiative.

He added that a similar initiative will be undertaken with regard to the Grand Harbour area. The initiative, said Dr Mangion, will encompass the towns and cities all the way between Kalkara and Sliema.

Dr Mangion criticised the government for obtaining less EU funding than promised because of inefficiency and said that no minister would admit accountability for the failure to submit documentation to Brussels.

Roads spokesman Charles Buhagiar said the St Paul’s Bay by-pass had been opened although it was still unfinished. He also stated that the rebuilding of Manwel Dimech Bridge will not be completed as planned by September but it will be finished by mid-2008. He recalled how the bridge had been built by a PN administration and opened by the MLP government in the early 70s, while the Tal-Qroqq junction was opened by the MLP government in 1996 after it was built by a PN government. He told the party supporters that he hopes that history will repeat itself yet again.