Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s silence on the Mistra scandal confirms that there is not a pair of safe hands at the helm of environmental leadership in Malta, Opposition MP Roderick Galdes said yesterday.

In a statement, Mr Galdes said that the silence on the fact that a permit was issued by Mepa for a nightclub in Mistra confirmed that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is not a steady leader in the environmental field.

The way in which the case developed continues to place pressure on the Nationalist Party to shoulder political responsibility.

It must also be taken into account that the MLP has been demanding a reaction from the Prime Minister for the past weeks.

He said that since the Mepa decided to withdraw the outline permit which was approved for development of Mistra Bay, it is unacceptable for the PM to dig his heels in and refuse to talk about the matter.

Mr Galdes said that the people of Malta and Gozo had the right to an explanation about the political implications related to the case and the decision to award the original permit.