Dr Sant, together with deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon, was speaking at an activity organised by the party’s women’s committee at the Park of Friendship.

The country is in bad shape and yet the Gonzi administration keeps marching on with its eyes shut, just as the previous government run by Eddie Fenech Adami did, he said. “This government is being blackmailed by the circle of friends of friends that have helped the party in the past and now expect their dues in return.”

The biggest challenge facing the country at the moment is the shortage of employment opportunities, said Dr Sant, adding that prospects in all sectors look grim. Foreign investment is nowhere to be seen, while factories and now even hotels are closing down regularly, but the government keeps ignoring the problems and drags its feet in a never-ending spiral of unfinished projects.

He made reference to the Mater Dei Hospital, saying that instead of nearing completion it was now “celebrating its second fire”. He also mentioned the work at the Cirkewwa and Mgarr harbours, saying that they have been left half-finished. “Matters are different for the friends of friends,” he said. “They still get to spend lavishly on embassies at the expense of the Maltese people.”

The MLP has been saying for years that there should be two golf courses, one in Malta and the other in Gozo. “Not the one in Verdala,” he qualified. “We have mentioned the sites we consider suitable for this development.” Now the Prime Minister is asking Mepa to come up with a solution, when in reality if he really wanted things to be done he should lead the way himself, Dr Sant insisted.

He gave an example of what he called the government’s half-hearted leadership, mentioning the problems at the Sant Antnin treatment plant. The Nationalist government had been saying that it wanted to do something about it for years but never did, he said, adding that when Labour was in power, the then Environment Minister George Vella solved the problem in a matter of months.