Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday accused Opposition leader Alfred Sant of calling a national protest in order to “yet again” undermine the negotiation process on the social pact.

Speaking at a party activity in Zebbug, a few hours before MLP’s scheduled national demonstration at the Granaries, later downsized and relocated to Hal Far due to bad weather, Dr Gonzi insisted that over the past ten months or so since he became Prime Minister the Opposition had done nothing other than try to undermine the government’s efforts.

The government had done its best to come to an agreement acceptable to everyone and if ever there was a time when nobody can call the government arrogant this is it, he said. “How can you call a government that is in a meeting with social partners in order to find a solution until 3am in the morning arrogant?” he asked.

“The government must also take a decision … after all the people elected us to consult, value the opinion of those we consult with, but ultimately decide,” he added.

Given that a social pact was not agreed to when the budget was announced, the government decided not to waste the time available until the budget was actually legislated and reopened discussions once again, he said. He added that this held true especially seeing that some unions, particularly the UHM, were willing to reach agreement.

“However, even this time, even though we were close, we did not manage to reach an agreement. It was not a waste of time because now the government knows better than ever the opinion of the social partners, but we must move on,” said Dr Gonzi.

“Everyone agrees that competitiveness must be boosted, the problems rises in the how,” he added.

The Opposition has done nothing other than try to sabotage the government’s plans, without offering any alternatives, he insisted. He mentioned the Chambray negotiations, the helicopter service to and from Gozo and the talks over the Mater Dei Hospital. On the Mater Dei negotiations, he said that with the accusations made during the negotiation process, Dr Sant had merely managed to weaken the government’s bargaining position, while at the same time strengthening that of Skanska. The same attempt was made during the negotiations over the Gozo helicopter service negotiations, he added.

What is more, Dr Gonzi insisted, Dr Sant does not offer alternative policies. Making reference to the Marsascala recycling plant controversy, he pointed out that the Labour Party had said that it would be rationalising waste recycling facilities and that it will be choosing four sites. “Can Dr Sant tell us where these sites will be?” he asked. “Will they be in Zebbug? Kirkop? Where? The people have the right to know what he is proposing,” he added.

He linked his argument to another controversy raised last week by the Opposition leader over the reverse osmosis plants. Dr Sant had said that more plants may have been built than was in fact necessary. “I tell Dr Sant that its better not to bring up the water issue. Before a nationalist government built the reverse osmosis plants, water used to come out brown from the tap if it came out at all,” he jibed.

The Labour Party has not changed its mentality, it still believes that second rate is good enough, said Dr Gonzi. “The PN believes that second rate is not good enough,” he emphasised, warning Gozitan people that what Dr Sant wanted was a second rate helicopter service.

Dr Gonzi also criticised the position Dr Sant took during this week’s parliamentary debate on the Local Council Act. Dr Sant said in parliament that even though the Opposition agreed with the amendments to the act, including the electoral amendments extending the terms of councils to four years, it expected them to go in tandem with the overdue changes to the national electoral system.

“What has one got to do with the other?” Dr Gonzi asked. The national electoral system will be tackled in due course but the Opposition leader cannot treat parliament as if it were a market and haggle changes in a law in exchange for another one, he emphasised.

“Perhaps he was still in the market mood since he began his market tours,” he commented humorously. “It’s a good thing that he did not find the Sicilians he had said would come to Malta before the EU referendum.”

The country is on the right track, he emphasised, pointing out that this was certified both by recent statistics which, he said, show that the unemployment level is down to that registered in 1998. He also said the EU told the Maltese government that it is keeping with the convergence plan, contrary to countries like Greece and Hungary.

However, this must render nobody complacent, he insisted, saying that Malta is in competition even with Libya. “You wait and see whether Libya will be in a position to compete with us in sectors like tourism,”he said.

“Just as the people living in Zebbug and the surrounding areas will see the difference and improvement to their lives once the road works in the vicinity are completed so will the Maltese people when the economy has been renewed. But situations require sacrifice,” he concluded.

Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino and Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett both spoke after the Prime Minister. Taking the cue from the Prime Minister, Mr Pullicino said that the difference between the Labour Party and PN was precisely that the MLP still believed that second rate investment is acceptable.

He made reference to comments made by MLP MP Chris Agius in parliament on Friday that the government should leave the plant as it is. He said that the government wanted to improve the present plant especially for the residents – among them the Prime Minister, who is not leaving Marsascala, he said.

The Labour Party used to criticise the government for commissioning reports and never taking action and now that action is being taken, it is also criticising the government, he commented.

The Sant Antnin plant will be up to EU standards and if this were not so it (the EU) would not be paying E24 million out of the E32 million the plant refurbishment is going to cost, he added.

Mr Mugliett announced that by the end of this year the government will be announcing a road strategy whereby all roads that need work will be factored in and their reconstruction scheduled. He also said that the ministry was already preparing the permits and impact assessment for a new batch of roads planned for 2007.

In this way, once the projects are given the go-ahead in terms of financial aid by the EU the government will be in a position to start immediately, concluded Mr Mugliett.