PL MP Joe Debono Grech took off by strongly hitting out at the Opposition for having been responsible for increasing the debts of the Gozo Channel.
"If there's someone who cannot say anything on the Gozo Channel, it's you (the PN)," he said.
Parliament is currently discussing the financial estimates of the Gozo ministry.
He said that despite the PN having been in government for 25 years, it failed to build the yacht marina in Gozo and now it is asking whether it is going to be built.
Mr Debono Grech said it's useless having the want to do things but did nothing for Gozo.
Addressing Chris Said, he said that his daughter (Debono Grech's) thought highly of Dr Said.
"Can you tell us how the PN left the Birkirkara local council drowning in debts, around one and the half million euros?" he said.
Dr Said had been responsible for local councils.
Dr Debono Grech's daughter was elected mayor during the council elections.
Franco Mercieca says Gozitans do not trust Simon Busuttil
PL MP and former parliamnetary secretary for the elderly Franco Mercieca said that he would be changing the tone, referring to Mr Debono Grech’s speech.
He said though that Dr Busuttil’s speech in parliament tied to the budget was negative and hit out at too many individuals.
Quoting PN leader Simon Busuttil’s words that his weapon is political honesty, Dr Mercieca said that this is the biggest lie; I can tell you that the Gozitans do not trust him in the least because he had promised that when Malta joins the EU, Gozo would be considered a region (Declaration 36).
It turned out that there was no agreement with the EU and it was only a simple declaration made by the then government.
Dr Mercieca said that 40 per cent of Gozitans work in the public sector since the PN government had failed to create jobs in Gozo and incentivise the private sector.
He said that the medical school project in Gozo is going to happen despite a few hiccups. The agreement is to be finalised in the months to come.
Proud to form part of government which is working in interest of Gozo, Justyne Caruna says
PL MP Justyne Caruana sad that she is proud to form part of a government which is ready to support the Gozo minister and working in the interest of Gozo.
She said that a PL government would increase back office work in Gozo while it would also be building a learning hub for persons with a disability after the government signed an agreement with the Church.
The learning hub will complement the work being done at Santa Marta day centre in Victoria and the new hub does not aim to compete with it.
Shelter for victims of domestic abuse was badly needed in Gozo
Gozo Minister Anton Refalo said that the island of Gozo is a diamond in the Mediterranean.
“I have no doubt that everyone wants to see Gozo flourish,” he said, and I am sure it would not go through anybody’s mind to do the right opposite and try to use Gozo as a political football.
But Dr Refalo said that Dr Busuttil’s speech was aimed at bringing about a divide.
“Is it possible for Dr Busuttil not to have found time to mention Gozo in his speech?” he said.
Dr Refalo said that the problem of domestic violence in Gozo is growing and the need for a shelter for these women is a must.
The minister was highly critical of the previous government's €500,000 investment in a buoy in Xlendi to attract cruise liners, which was subsequently found to be unsuitable.
"When one cruise liner tried to use it, it risked ending up like the Costa Concordia," he said, in reference to the cruise liner which ran aground off Italy's Isola del Giglio on January 2012.
He then noted that the government's vision was different, pointing out that €1.5 million had been committed to set up better facilities in Xlendi, and noted that the one proposal received for the development of a cruise liner terminal and a yacht marina in Gozo, by the Kalamarine development consortium, was being assessed.
Dr Refalo also pointed out that tourism figures in Gozo were shattering every record, and insisted that more would be done to improve on this. He then insisted that the Bethlehem f'Għajnsielem activity, which attracted visitors during the winter months, had stopped taking place under the previous government due to the rivalry between two ministers, but had now been revived with great success.
As he concluded, the minister said that the present government might have made mistakes, but added that the only ones who made no mistakes were those who did nothing.
"And when they did anything, it was done with corruption," he charged.