“Yet again the MTA is boasting the launch of new study,” the statement said, “it seems that the Authority does not appreciate the huge responsibility it has for the bad state of the Maltese economy.”

During the past years the MTA concentrated all its efforts on the studies and building internal structures, upon which it has invested exaggerated amounts of money in consultancy and administrative expenses. “All the excuses have been made to justify the unsatisfactory results that the Maltese economy is registering.”

A large part of the crisis Malta is facing is due to the fact that the tourism sector is not growing and as a consequence sales at retail outlets are down as are profits and employment. The Tourism sector is the only viable way to get the economy out of the stagnated state that it is presently in.

It is shameful, the statement continued, that the Authority has not exploited Malta’s EU accession this year, and the exposure the country got with thousands of Europeans. Instead of putting more effort and money in marketing our country, the Authority is wasting time with studies that will put their employees in an uncertain position and with less enthusiasm.

“While the Authority concentrated on these studies, businesses and the employment of its workers suffered from a haemorrhage. Businesses keep getting taxed, while the body responsible to attract work – and for which they are paid with the tax money – are wasting time with studies. “Those responsible had better wake up,” the statement ended.