Two ministers had made serious accusations regarding the manner of how funds were going to be granted for the St John’s Co-Cathedral project during a high Nationalist Party meeting, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said.

Dr Muscat had previously referred to these persons as “holding a high institutional position” who had indicated that EU funds were allocated following “undue pressure and because some people knew the rules of the game well”.

Dr Muscat was speaking at a Labour Party activity at Villa Bighi, Kalkara yesterday.

While encouraging the two ministers to speak up, he said that the PN had already attempted to find out how such sensitive information made it to PL. Dr Muscat said he was ready to name these persons if they did not do so.

Dr Muscat continued to criticise Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for living in denial and for thinking that he could talk his way out of the economical crisis using the feel good factor. He added that Malta registered the lowest export rate for 2008 against other EU countries and blamed the government for lack of competitiveness.

With reference to the present illegal migration situation Dr Muscat referred to last week’s European Commission reconsideration of an idea that was proposed to the budget committee by MEP Louis Grech two years ago. Back then, Dr Grech had proposed the idea of introducing an asylum agency in Malta that screens illegal migrants while fast tracking their repatriation process. The idea was not applied, as it did not have the necessary backing of PN MEPs.

Dr Muscat called for nationalist MEPs to support the idea for the agency to open office.

Dr Muscat also spoke of the present water and electricity rates, which the government needed to immediately revoke. The debate regarding the utility bills in parliament was initially scheduled for February but was postponed by the regulator.

Dr Muscat said that the lengthy process to reach a decision about the utility rates has created confusion and brought about lack of consumer confidence, leading to a crisis. The utility rates issue should not result to another “u-turn,” just like the St John’s Co-Cathedral issue, he added, as the government was to treat people with dignity rather than as numbers.

The Opposition Leader quoted an unfortunate case of a man who suffers from a physical disability following a work-related accident, three years ago and whose wife had to leave her job to care for him. Last January, this family received a letter saying that they were entitled to a subsidy of e75 on water and electricity bills according to the Budget however only two days later he received another notification informing him that he could not benefit from the subsidy, as his income was more than the maximum set threshold. Dr Muscat said that this person was already struggling to cope and the law should be amended in a timely manner so that this family could benefit from the subsidy. He added that this is a clear example of how persons are treated as numbers and not as people.

While expressing solidarity with workers at the forefront of combating illegal migration such as policemen and soldiers, he appealed for dignity in dealing with the issue.

He expected the government to act following the arrival of 230 migrants in February and the recent protests in the detention centres. The amount of migrants who arrived this year has already reached the 22 per cent of migrants who arrived by July last year.

Dr Muscat mentioned other government incompetence including the rising hospital waiting lists. He also criticised the government with regards to the building of Cirkewwa quay which was to be finished by mid-2003 however it had decided to amend the project designs which have to be submitted for EU funding and Mepa permits.

He also made reference to the e10 million agreement between the Armed Forces of Malta and the Australian company Austal regarding the purchasing of four patrol boats which could have been built by shipyard workers in Malta if the government planned ahead.

The Labour Party announced that it will be taking up initiatives to address illegal migration, education reform and involvement of citizens in local councils.

Dr Muscat said that PL does not want to solely criticise the government but wants to contribute in the success of the Maltese Islands.

In a statement, PN rebutted Dr Muscat’s comments and said that Dr Muscat had once again chosen to be sensational when dealing with the illegal migration issue making it a political ploy. The government was to continue fighting the problem at EU level which lately approved amendments to a directive restricting employers from engaging illegal migrants.

With reference to the health sector, PN said that Dr Muscat was dealing with the issue in a partisan and amateur manner.