The need for more education of children and young adults in Cospicua, as well as the need for Dock One to be developed, were the main issues discussed at a consultation meeting between the Malta Labour Party and the area’s council.

The meeting was one in a series that the MLP is holding as part of its strategy to redevelop the Grand Harbour area.

Cospicua mayor Joe Scerri said that education levels in the area were slipping, substantiating this by pointing out that only 12 years ago, 50 Cospicua students would pass the Junior Lyceum examinations, while now it is only four.

Speaking about Dock One, he said that everyone in the area wanted it to be redeveloped in the hope that it would create more opportunities for the local residents. He said that if something became of it, it would attract tourists as well as locals to the area.

The MLP delegation said it believed that the Grand Harbour area had great potential to bring about economic growth, employment opportunities and a better quality of life.

It was about time the whole area was given a new lease of life, said the MLP, for the good of the surrounding communities and the country as a whole. With an economic and social regeneration programme, Grand Harbour could regain its importance of old. Opposition leader Alfred Sant, deputy leader Charles Mangion, MP Charles Buhagiar and secretary-general Jason Micallef were at the meeting.