The Labour Party leader, who has been a Member of Parliament for 19 years, knew what procedures in Parliament were like, and therefore knew that a parliamentary resolution was not needed for Maltacom-owned land in Qawra to return to the government, the Investment, Industry and IT Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

What was needed was a contract signed by the parties involved, in this case the government, Tecom and Maltacom, after they reach an agreement.

The ministry said Dr Sant knew that a parliamentary resolution was needed only when it was passing on land to other parties, and not when it acquired it. In this case, a resolution was necessary for the government to pass to Maltacom land where the company had exchanges that were currently still government property.

This resolution and transfer of land to Maltacom could take place when the land in Qawra returned to the government.

Once the land has not been returned, the government would not move a resolution that would favour only Maltacom and not the Maltese people, the ministry said.

In his insistence for a resolution, it seemed that Dr Sant had the interests of Maltacom, and not of the Maltese public, at heart, the ministry concluded.