Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat yesterday described the resignation of Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri, following the Bahrija farmhouse case, as 'nothing or very little'.

During an interview on One radio Dr Muscat said that there are too many questions left unanswered on the Bahrija development controversy, which led to Dr Scerri's resignation.



“Someone has to take on responsibility of the case in view of Mepa auditor's report that showed how alarming the situation is. The report confirmed that Mepa is scourged from within, a death signal to Mepa's credibility,” he continued.

“It is even more worrying that crucial evidence vanished into thin air. Is it possible that such an important file was 'misplaced'? That those documents that could shed light on the situation were lost? Who used the file last and when?" enquired Dr Muscat.

The case will not be closed before clear answers are provided, not only on how and why the necessary permits were granted but also on who will shoulder the political responsibility of 'mishandling' the file, he continued.

"Should members of the 2003 Development Control Commission (DCC) board appointed by Dr Gonzi, and who have since resigned, take on political responsibility? Should environment minister George Pullicino, who was responsible for Mepa when the last permit was issued, carry the responsibility? Or, should former DCC board member and MP Philip Mifsud be responsible for issuing the first permit?"

The whole Bahrija controversy shows that the Prime Minister did not learn anything from the EP elections on 6th June as nothing has changed since and he keeps evading his political responsibility.

He added the PN president was right in saying that he shouldn't uphold responsibilities he shouldn't be. The lack of political responsibility by Dr Gonzi is undermining the Mepa reform itself, continued the opposition leader.

Regarding the new power station issue, Dr Muscat said "taxpayers ought to know how a contract of such high value was awarded. How could a particular person receive €4 million in commission fees after this person could access information provided by the same company submitting the offer? How come the same company postponed a meeting with Enemalta to know what other bidders submitted?"

“If, in Austin Gatt's opinion, all this is 'normal' then the dubious and questionable manner in which certain tenders are awarded is justified,” went on Dr Muscat.

“Eventually, it was discovered that the €200 million contract was awarded to a contractor partnered with the Enemalta chairman, the same person who was sub-contracted for the building of a new power station. If this is acceptable for Austin Gatt then the Prime Minister should voice his opinion on the case as well,” continued Dr Muscat.

On the abuses that took place within the VAT department, he said currently the government is hiding behind the police investigations although, preceding reports by the auditor general highlight certain abuses that were taking place and which the government never took action over.

With regards to the 2010 budget, Dr Muscat said that the government should guarantee that the utility tariffs and energy prices will not increase further than an established price until next year. This will give families and businesses the opportunity to plan ahead, and to enable certainty and stability in the country, he added.

The budget is not simply meant to introduce taxes, but it should act as a plan for next year. He maintained that this could be done through the studies conducted by the government.

He said that the Malta Labour Party proposed 23 measures to combat the cost of living. The social partners, the government, the opposition and academics were invited to provide their expertise in order to analyse and explain how things really are.

He spoke of the positive proposals submitted by the PL on inflation. He made reference to the proposal to introduce transparency in the way certain government products, such as fuel, are imported

Dr Muscat also touched on the subject of the Mepa reform. If on the one hand the government speaks of 'zero tolerance' on permits in outside development zones, but it was the prime minister himself to expand the development zones, how can he be deemed as credible, he said.

The government's proposals are a piecemeal solution when Mepa needs a fundamental reform with a vision, he continued.

With reference to the tourism sector, he said that extra unnecessary tolls ought to be revised to address the needs of employment in this sector, which is crucial for the Maltese economy.

Product improvement must not be mismatched with fundamental needs such as cleanliness, the environment and what not, went on the PL leader.

With his first year as PL and Opposition Leader, Joseph Muscat said that a greater deal must be done and his party will not contended with what has been accomplished so far. He said that different people's realities will be the party's driving force to keep on working.