Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi seemed more intent on stopping anything intended to clear matters up instead of doing what he could as Prime Minister to ensure there was transparency and accountability in the government he led, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

The previous day in parliament, Dr Sant added, the Prime Minister had defended Minister Censu Galea, who had refused to reply to questions put to him about statements he had made about the Public Transport Authority.

Addressing a social activity at Nigret on the outskirts of Rabat, Dr Sant said Mr Galea had admitted that there was corruption and gross inefficiency at the authority, which had staff that no one could trust. The public could not understand how a government minister, with the backing of the Prime Minister, would still not give any explanation for all this, and was still kept in the Cabinet.

Dr Gonzi should explain what Minister Galea had meant, especially now that the present executive head of the authority, Gianfranco Selvaggi, maintained that the authority still had the same people as it did when Mr Galea had made his remarks.

The events of the previous day, said Dr Sant, when the Prime Minister defended Minister Galea, confirmed that the government did not care about what was happening in the

country.

Dr Sant said the lack of interest shown by Dr Gonzi in good and transparent management that attacked inefficiency and corruption was leading to a heavy taxation burden and higher cost of living, which many families were finding it difficult to cope with.