Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday challenged Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to publish a list with the names of owners of plots which are going to be included in the development zones once the development boundaries are altered.
Speaking during a political activity in Fgura yesterday morning, Dr Sant referred to the controversy surrounding the rationalisation of the development boundaries, claiming that a group of people close to the Nationalist government would benefit from these proposals.
Dr Sant said that through the decision to change the development boundaries, the government was trying to accommodate the interests of a group of friends of friends. He challenged Prime Minister Gonzi to publish a comprehensive list of people who will be benefiting from this exercise.
He said that property which today costs between Lm60,000 and Lm70,000, once developed thanks to the new boundaries, would cost approximately Lm750,000.
Dr Sant said the absolute majority of people who would be better off with these changes are friends of friends who feel that they were treated unjustly because of the decision taken in 1988. He said that if it was found that injustices were committed in 1988, the government could have tackled these one by one in a transparent manner through a commission set up purposely to evaluate the situation.
Referring to a press conference given by Dr Gonzi on Saturday, Dr Sant said no new ideas were heard on what the government is planning to do to tackle the rise in the cost of living and the surcharge on electricity, which is affecting many families.
Dr Sant said Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett, Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit and parliamentary secretary Tony Abela have all been given “absolution” by Dr Gonzi on what Dr Sant described as wrongdoings.
He said Dr Frendo attended and addressed his canvassers and supporters at an activity at the Radisson during which pirated CDs were distributed. “How can he say that he was not responsible for it? 10 years ago people around Minister Frendo got him into trouble over the contract for the bus ticketing machines,” he said. Dr Frendo has denied the allegations being made by Dr Sant and has sued the Opposition Leader for libel.
Referring to Mr Mugliett, Dr Sant said he could not understand how the minister can say that he did not know that the police were investigating a number of Malta Transport Authority officials over alleged corruption.
Dr Sant said Minister Zammit’s brother was recently found guilty of dumping rubbish in the sea. He was fined Lm1,000 and, after the period to appeal had elapsed, he appealed and was forgiven and the fine revoked.
On Dr Abela, Dr Sant reiterated his allegation that Notary Abela was carrying out professional work from Castille and Dr Gonzi, once again, gave him his absolution. “If there is a code of ethics which is not adhered to, one might as well remove the code altogether,” he said.
The Labour leader said the party was at present holding discussions with various stakeholders on its plans and proposals to give Malta a fresh start. He said the Malta Labour Party was offering concrete proposals to solve the problems facing Malta. He added that it was evident that people wanted a change in leadership and in the way the country is run. The MLP was working to bring about this change and to bring about a new start for the country.
Earlier, Labour MP Evarist Bartolo criticised the government and the Malta Tourism Authority for failing to draw up and implement a proper marketing plan. He said there were 97,000 fewer airline seats to bring over tourists to Malta and that some time ago there were 7,000 German tourists who wanted to visit Malta but who could not travel to Malta because there were no airline seats available.
Deputy Labour leader Charles Mangion said Prime Minister Gonzi continues to insist that everything is OK in Malta when facts and the what families are feeling show the opposite.