A rather short Sunday morning interview with PN leader Simon Busuttil on Radio 101 enabled him to claim that in no less than six areas the government's lies have caught up with it.

First, Dr Busuttil spoke about the power station. This government was elected on the lie that a power station could be built from scratch in two years, otherwise the prime minister would resign. It was elected on the lie that a gas vessel was needed so that the power station could begin to function within two years. It was also a lie that the new power station was needed to cut down the rates. The government's lies have now caught up with it. The PN alternative is one that Dr Muscat often made fun of, the BWSC plant.

Next, Dr Busuttil spoke about tomorrow's debate in the House and the Opposition's demand that all documentation is made publicly available. So far, the government has refused to reveal the nature of its contracts with Shanghai Electric. It now seems the government has come to an agreement to buy from Shanghai Electric all the power it can produce.  It also seems the government is already in agreement to buy from the consortium all the power they can generate through their plant. At the end, Malta will have more electricity than it can use and this maybe at a higher price than it could get through the Interconnector.

This past week the news has surfaced that the government has quietly purchased the Petroleum Division from Enemalta. When the government reduced the price of petrol by 2c, a full press conference was called, but not to announce that the government would be spending €83 million from taxes to purchase the Petroleum Division from Enemalta. Why not allow Enemalta to sell it to others? Why was this deal done in secret?

As regards traffic, the government tried to tell people it was just a perception that the roads are clogged. This government was elected on the promise to tackle the traffic problems as well but this government has made things worse.

As regards Air Malta, the Opposition considers the national airline as a very important asset for the country as a whole. The PN government had agreed to a plan with the European Commission and this plan was moving well until the election. Since then, there has been massive government political interference with no less than three chairmen and three CEOs since the election. Now Dr Muscat, who had always been against any idea of privatisation of the airline, is saying he is not against the partial privatisation of the airline.

Finally, the government's recent U-turn on local councils, accepting to hold local council elections next year has proved the Opposition right. The Opposition still has reservations with the government's words that local council elections in the future may be held every five years. In the past, every time that a PN government did anything about elections it ensure that first it got the consent of the Opposition.

Government reacts

In a press statement, the government has hit back, saying it is the Opposition which lied, when it stated that utility bills cannot be reduced.

The energy ministry said the Opposition cannot accept the fact that utility bills have been reduced, and is trying to cast a doubt on whether it is true. In addition, the Opposition Leader has failed to say that a Nationalist administration has failed to acquire the necessary permits for the interconnector project.

The ministry of Tourism said that the Opposition Leader failed to mention that during Nationalist Administration, a number of Air Malta employees were left off, and the management was mishandled.  The statement said that Dr Busuttil is merely isolated in his own negativity.

The government is committed to complete the restructure reforms in accordance with the European Commission.