Reacting to comments made by Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at a political activity yesterday, three ministries issued statements to emphasise their stand on certain issues.
In reply to Dr Sant’s comment regarding the government’s lack of vision for the tourism sector, the Tourism and Culture Ministry said it was the current government that actually came up with a number of strategies and plans for the tourism sector. These plans are being implemented and are also giving desired results.
The results speak for themselves: incoming tourism increased by 12.1 per cent in July over the same period last year and a total of 649,502 tourists (+7.6 per cent) visited Malta during the first seven months of this year, said the ministry.
The tourists spent a total of Lm232.7 million (EUR542.05 million) – an increase of Lm9.6 million (EUR22.36 million) or 4.3 per cent when compared to the same period last year.
The ministry said these improvements were only possible thanks to a number of strategies that the government came up with. These include, among others, initiatives like the introduction of low-cost carriers, having legacy airlines service the Malta route with more flights, improving the state of bays and promenades, and organising big music events with the participation of artistes of international repute.
The ministry added that the government will be making use of substantial EU funds to improve the state of tourist areas like Bugibba, Qawra, St Paul’s Bay, Marsascala, Sliema, St Julian’s and Gozo.
Considering the Labour Party harped on against EU membership, it is difficult to imagine how they would have funded such projects, the ministry asked.
The Roads and Urban Development Ministry also issued a media statement in reply to comments made by Dr Sant yesterday morning.
The ministry said Dr Sant has still not accepted Minister Jesmond Mugliett’s invitation to meet technical officers of the Transport Authority (ADT) to discuss the reconstruction of the bridge.
As regards Dr Sant’s allegation that the company of architects that is overseeing the project is led by Robert Sant, who was or still is a business partner of Roads and Urban Development Minister Jesmond Mugliett, the ministry said the testing and supervision of the project is being carried out by means of a joint venture between German company KHP and Design and Technical Resources Limited.
Minister Mugliett is in no way involved in the company. Moreover, the company is a separate entity from Sant and Mugliett.
The last two statements issued in reaction to Dr Sant’s comments yesterday, were issued by the Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry, which referred to a “pathetic Labour Party”.
In reply to what Dr Sant said about the government’s plan for the Grand Harbour, the ministry said the Labour leader’s reaction was “puerile, pathetic and dishonest”.
The ministry said that on Saturday, the government issued a detailed study carried out over a whole year, which identified opportunities for development of different areas around the harbour.
The ministry also noted that presumably following a directive from the MLP’s central administration, all seven mayors of Xghajra, Kalkara, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Cospicua, Paola and Marsa refused Minister Austin Gatt’s invitation to attend the launch of the government’s presentation of its vision for the Grand Harbour, even if some of them had already confirmed their attendance.
In a separate statement, the ministry said that by saying he did not have faith in Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr Sant had expressed his lack of trust in Labour deputy leader Charles Mangion, who chairs the committee.
Minister Gatt referred to Dr Sant’s allegations regarding WSC chairman Michael Falzon, as well as the Labour leader’s comments regarding overruns in the construction of two sewage treatment plants.
The minister challenged Mr Mangion to call a PAC meeting and to summon Dr Sant to substantiate his allegations.