Justice Minister Owen Bonnici told parliament this evening that the traffic problem is a reality but at no point should the issue be politicised.

Dr Bonnici was replying to a question on behalf of Transport Minister Joe Mizzi made by PN MP Kristy Debono. She asked whether a study has been commissioned which would offer a solution to the traffic problem.

Dr Bonnici explained that the traffic situation is affecting people and “I can never say that the situation is not a reality.

“I can easily come here and raise a number of political points on what happened in the past but the traffic situation is something that needs to be addressed and all of us should give his/her take on the subject.

“The worse thing is if we politicised the issue; the people out there are waiting for us politicians to hold a constructive debate to alleviate the problem,” Dr Bonnici said.

Having said that, Dr Bonnci still read out a PQ which was answered by then PN transport minister Censu Galea some 14 years ago regarding the traffic problem at the time.

Dr Debono asked Dr Bonnci whether he would be replying to her question.

Dr Bonnici said that a study would help policy makers in their decisions “but frankly, instead of speaking about studies, we should all come together to offer a solution”.

The issue soon turned political as both sides of the house started to hit out at each other on past and present issues with some government MPs stating that the PN spent 25 years in government but did nothing to alleviate the problem.

Dr Bonnici recalled the time when coffins were pictured floating in floodwaters in 2012.

Marsa junction project to cost €40m

Dr Debono asked Dr Bonnici whether he can confirm that patients were not operated upon or had their operation postponed as a result of the traffic they found and whether some people lost their flights due to traffic.

Dr Bonnici said that the Marsa Junction project is one of the projects that would help alleviate the problem in the south. He said the junction project would cost some 40 million euros and would be potentially funded by the EU.