The MLP will publish a collection of its plans in July, in the form of a book that will include all the Labour Party’s policies and vision statements that have been put together during the past few months, Labour leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

Dr Sant was speaking at a political activity in St Julian’s, during which he said that the Labour Party’s plans offer a solid basis for the leadership of the country.

The plans cover a wide range of themes and aspects of society, and were drawn up following extensive consultation with a number of entities and organisations.

Among them are policies and plans for the country’s economic and social revitalisation, the environment, the renewal of the industry, the protection of cultural heritage, the family and children’s welfare.

The Labour Party is committed to continue launching a number of other plans in the coming weeks.

At the end of this week, the party is expected to finalise a regional plan for the development of Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul’s Bay and Xemxija. Dr Sant said 22 hotels closed down during the past six years and another two are expected to close down by the end of this year. The regional plan will address existing problems that are leaving negative effects on the tourism industry.

The MLP will also be working on another plan for the Grand Harbour area. This, together with the party’s plan for the development of the St Paul’s Bay area and other strategies, clearly demonstrate to the Labour Party’s belief in the tourism industry and the need for it to be given a push forward.

Dr Sant said the party’s plans bear witness that the Labour Party always was and will remain committed to come up with the best vision for the leadership of the country.

Dr Sant added that the MLP believed that the country’s leadership should be based upon three principles: efficiency, transparency and accountability.

He said that contrary to the way the Nationalist government was leading the country, the Labour Party in government will guarantee this type of leadership.

The recent accident at Mater Dei Hospital, where rainwater seeped through the walls, causing a lot of damage, was a tangible case that showed the government’s inefficiency.

Dr Sant said the government would not admit the extent of the damage caused, because new contracts would have to be awarded for repairs to be carried out.

In the same way that thousands of liri were spent to resurface several roads that had to be done up again, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s lack of interest in the efficiency of the new hospital has again proven to be detrimental to the country, said Dr Sant.

He made reference to the Manwel Dimech bridge project as another example of inefficiency. He explained that the project will cost more than projected and it will also take longer than expected to be completed. As a result, the inconvenience to residents, businessmen and tourists will only increase, he said.

Dr Sant said that the present government did not even believe in the concept of transparency and the award of IT contracts at the new hospital was a case in point, while the lack of transparency could also be seen in the project involving the change of the ID cards system.

The government’s worst characteristic was, however, the lack of accountability, said Dr Sant. Saying that many ministers were not accountable and responsible in their work, he made reference to the case involving the transport authority (ADT) and Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea, and another case in which Tourism and Culture Minister Francis Zammit Dimech was involved, when a Bobby Solo concert was cancelled. Whenever any shortcomings are revealed, Nationalist ministers fail to carry responsibility, not even in Parliament, the country’s highest institution, said Dr Sant.

He added that accountability and transparency meant that those who reveal information about cases of corruption should be protected, rather than becoming victims of the whole investigation.

Between 1996 and 1998, efforts were being made to give this concept legal weight, but this law was not of interest to Dr Gonzi’s government, since it does not believe it efficiency, transparency and accountability, said the Labour leader.

He said the Nationalist government’s lack of accountability was also clearly evident with regard to the administration of public funds.

Ever since Dr Gonzi became prime minister, citizens are having to fork out Lm240 million extra per year than they did three years ago, said Dr Sant, adding that these taxes are not even being made use of wisely.

He said about Lm190 million were superficially spent on government projects. Had these funds been used wisely, the government would have had enough money to reduce the surcharge for a whole 14 years and it would have also had enough money to improve citizens quality of life.

Referring back to the surcharge, Dr Sant noted that the Labour Party is committed to reduce the surcharge by half should it be elected to government at the next election.