The Leader of the Opposition said yesterday that the time for change has come and the Labour Party can give the country a new start. He announced that, in the

coming days, the MLP will be publishing a detailed plan of tangible proposals that will be implemented, should the party be elected to government at the next general

election.

Speaking at a political activity at Le Meridien Phoenicia in Floriana yesterday, Labour leader Alfred Sant promised that a new Labour government would work in a serious and transparent manner for the benefit of the citizens.

He said that during the past few years, the MLP had carried out an extensive consultation process that clearly revealed the need for change.

Dr Sant accused the Prime Minister of defending the behaviour of ministers and parliamentary secretaries, even if some of them were involved in serious scandals.

He said the only exception that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had made was with former Nationalist minister John Dalli.

Dr Sant said that PN secretary-general Joe Saliba had also publicly said that he agreed with Mr Dalli’s decision to resign. Even though Dr Gonzi had declared in parliament that his government was doing its best to fight corruption, the facts reveal otherwise, said the Labour leader.

He spoke about what he referred to as “the Jesmond Mugliett scandal”, saying that the minister had ordered the board of the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) not to discharge two employees who had been found guilty of taking bribes.

Minister Mugliett even lied in parliament, he claimed, by saying that the decision was a collective one, even if the executive director at the ADT confirmed that he was given an order from the minister not to sack the employees.

The Labour leader added that Swallow Garage was also involved in the ADT bribery case and despite the fact that the company is currently facing legal proceedings, it was still awarded a contract by the government.

At yesterday’s political activity, Dr Sant showed his audience a copy of a proxy that parliamentary secretary Tony Abela had issued on 24 April last year.

He said the proxy shows that the notary had used the Office of the Prime Minister for his private practice, which is clearly a breach of the Code of Ethics.

The Opposition Leader referred to Minister Censu Galea, saying that he (the minister) had admitted that there was a web of abuse at the ADT at a time when this authority fell under the remit of his ministry.

He said other cases could be added to the list of what he termed “scandals” and he mentioned the incident when copied CDs were distributed during an activity organised by Minister Michael Frendo, as well as the case concerning parliamentary secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.

He was referring to the court cleaning contract that was awarded to relatives of convict Mario Camilleri, known as l-Imniehru.

As for young couples who are facing big difficulties to purchase their own homes, the Labour Party will also be unveiling clear proposals to provide assistance.

The Malta Labour Party had recently announced that, should it be elected to government at the next general election, it would introduce a Local Councils Ministry, by means of which it will provide assistance to local councils to carry out a maximum of two projects in each area.

Dr Sant said the MLP has sent a letter to all local councils, asking them to put forward ideas for projects that would require assistance from the government. The ideas would then be discussed with councillors to assess whether or not they are feasible. Should the party receive positive feedback from local councils with regard to the scheme, the Labour leader said the party would commit itself to embarking on projects on a fast track basis during the first year following it being elected to government.

The MLP also intends to publish a regional plan for the development of Grand Harbour and the surrounding area. Dr Sant said a wide consultation process is ongoing with civil society and interested entities in this regard.

The Labour leader said the country is being led by a government that believes it can continue deceiving people. Referring to the pre-Budget document entitled Families Growing Stronger (Familji fis-Sod), Dr Sant said everyone remembers the Nationalist Party’s 2003 slogan, Securing our Finances (Finanzi fis-Sod). He said that this does not augur well, if families are to grow as strongly as had the country’s finances four years ago.