The Labour Party said yesterday that the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) considers the initiative taken by the Labour Party on the development of localities surrounding the Grand Harbour as an important one.

According to the MLP, UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella said this at a consultation meeting with a Labour party delegation led by acting leader Charles Mangion, on the Labour party regional development plan for Grand Harbour.

The MLP said Mr Vella described Grand Harbour as a jewel and emphasised that its development was an important process which should be implemented in a national effort.

Mr Vella, the MLP said, spoke about the many years it has taken to build the Mater Dei hospital and described as “hard-headedness” the decision to dig up Merchants Street in Valletta in summer, without it having been completed yet.