From Mr R. Cassar

Nick Avellino is misinformed (TMIS, 3 June – “Preposterous recommendations”).

An additional income of Lm8 to Lm10 million from the tax amnesty scheme is the government’s estimate and not AD’s. Protecting Ta’ Cenc is not important for Mr Avellino. He says he does not care about it. He even tells us that public transport is not a priority and that “everybody knows how the public transport has and is being continuously reformed”. Maybe Mr Avellino is referring to the change of colour of the buses from green to orange; or maybe the huge success of the automatic ticketing machines (sic).

Our vision for public transport goes much further than that. It is time for investment in innovative, clean mass transportation options: new routes, buses running on clean fuels, “boat-buses” in the harbour area, trams. Mr Avellino thinks these suggestions are ridiculous; so be it. We also propose the liberalisation of licences for taxi and bus services. Private monopolies in this sector are unacceptable. I think Mr Avellino would agree.

As regards Mr Avellino’s comments about the problems of over development in Qui-si-Sana/Tigné/St Julian’s, but also in other areas like Mellieha, Attard, Iklin, Swieqi, Birzebbuga, Mosta, Zabbar, Saint Paul’s Bay, basically all over Malta and Gozo, anyone who follows current affairs knows our constant proposals and action on such issues. His comments in this regard just show how blinkered and partisan, in the worst sense of the word, Mr Avellino is. Yes, unfortunately such people still exist in Malta.

Ralph Cassar

Deputy Secretary General

Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party

ATTARD