The Nationalist Party accused the government of not being serious and transparent in the manner in which it was dealing with the gas tanker planned for Marsaxlokk bay.

It was referring to a meeting on Thursday of the Consultative Council for the South when the Opposition’s representative asked chairman Silvio Parnis to include on the agenda the power station project, which involves gas storage on a tanker anchored in Marsaxlokk bay.

This decision, the PN said, will unnecessarily endanger the residents of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia and all those earning a living through economic activity around the port.

The PN said it was therefore disappointing that discussion on the tanker was denied at the meeting, on the pretext that the consultative council is not the suitable forum to discuss such a matter, when Minister Leo Brincat had made it clear that the council should work with the experts to form an opinion on issues which affect the south of Malta.

It was clear, the PN said, that Joseph Muscat’s government is not being serious and transparent in the way in which it was treating the gas tanker issue. The decision of the consultative council to ignore an issue which is of concern to the residents of the south continues to confirm that the Prime Minister is being obstinate about this issue and wants to listen only to himself.