Speaking hypothetically, the Prime Minister warned any subcontractor trying to sabotage the negotiation process, in the belief that this would benefit his position, that he would be the one to suffer most, even though the country would suffer as a whole.

Dr Gonzi was speaking at a party activity, held at the PN’s Hamrun club, also addressed by Communications and Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea and PN MP Jason Azzopardi.

He said that Skanska is expected to table another offer by next Saturday. In the meantime, he explained, the company is holding talks with its subcontractors in a bid to secure a deadline and a financial package that meet the government’s demands. The Swedish company had complained to the government that it was having difficulty committing itself on both counts because of troubles it was experiencing with the sub-contractors.

During the recent meeting held with the company, Government asked for a delivery date, together with a final estimate of the project’s cost. The estimate will be binding and cannot be over-run under any circumstance, he stressed. Furthermore, if the deadline is not met, the company will be made to pay fines running into millions.

On this point, Dr Gonzi said that in the national interest he expected the opposition leader to be consistent and refrain from making statements that could hamper the process. The same applies to the opposition’s stand on the negotiations being held regarding the Malta-Gozo helicopter service. Dr Gonzi said that he will be open to any serious suggestions made by the opposition, “But if Dr Sant’s solution to the country’s economic situation was a helicopter trip, then Dr Sant will have to excuse me for not taking his advice”.

Dr Gonzi also spoke of the EU Constitution, signed earlier this week by heads of the 25 member states. He said that even on this issue he expected the opposition to reaffirm its position, taken after the last general election vis-a-vis the EU, and declare its agreement with the Constitution document at the earliest opportunity.

He recalled that Dr Sant had represented the opposition during various EU meetings to discuss the Constitution and also that after the document was agreed upon in June, he (Dr Gonzi) had briefed parliament on the key points of the agreement and what they meant for Malta. “I am under the impression that there was a consensus then, that the document is positive for Malta.”

The document will be ratified in Parliament after it is discussed again, he said, adding that other countries will be holding a referendum. Malta will not have to go through such as process, as the issues raised in the Constitution have already been covered during the run up to the accession referendum. “There is no need to hold another one,” he said. The EU Constitution means a step forward both for the EU and for Malta, he emphasised, reminding his audience that it gives Malta the right to a sixth seat in the European parliament. This meant that large countries like Germany had to agree to fewer seats, he pointed out.

Speaking of the Xarabank discussion programme in which he took part on Friday, Dr Gonzi said that while the country faced a number of challenges, and there was still a great deal to be done, there are indications that government is on the right track. He mentioned the reduction in losses made by the Drydocks and the Gozo Channel Company. The Drydocks have reduced their losses by Lm1 million and Gozo Channel went from losses of nearly a million last year to a loss of just Lm27,000 this year.

Recent figures for tourism reinforced an upward trend, he pointed out, adding that this year the sector had registered a two per cent improvement over last year. The past few months have made up for the losses sustained during the first five months of the year, he said.

However, he added, the most impressive figure of all remains the amount of money the Maltese people are estimated to have saved: some Lm2.8 billion, Lm100 million of which has been saved in the past year alone. “This would not be possible if the country was in as bad a state as is depicted by the opposition.”

He said that there had been a surge in property sales this year, with a record of just over 8,000 contracts – almost 1,000 more than last year. The budget deficit has been cut by some Lm26 million this year and exports are up by 3.5 per cent, he added.

Regarding the reforms planned by government for the ports, a point which was amplified by Minister Galea, Dr Gonzi said that contrary to what the MLP was saying, the reform is not intended as an attack on Cargo Handling Company or against a group of people but as a key measure to ensure Malta’s future competitiveness.

Concluding, Dr Gonzi made reference to the forthcoming budget, on which he said the government was working full swing at present. He announced that government’s investment will be focused on a number of areas such as education, tourism and specialised manufacture that will ensure Malta’s socio-economic