Investments and IT Minister Austin Gatt was criticised for political opportunism by MLP IT spokesman Leo Brincat yesterday, who said that a scheme to improve broadband access was being introduced just weeks before a general election and could be intended only as a vote-winning ploy.

The scheme, which was not means tested, was intrinsically unjust socially because it was being offered on a first come first served basis and could be a disadvantage to those applying who could be most in need, Mr Brincat argued.

And such a scheme, which was only of a year’s duration according to what had been said initially, was not an adequate substitute for a serious national plan which would ensure wide penetration of broadband access.

Mr Brincat went on to condemn Dr Gatt for his comments on the Labour Party relating to SmartCity, in which Dr Gatt depicted the MLP as being against the project.

Mr Brincat said that apparently Dr Gatt had forgotten that the MLP in parliament had voted in favour of the project, though it had some reservations about it; the Labour Party was also committed to see the project achieve its aims; and just seconds before the agreement with Tecom Investments was signed Dr Gatt had thanked the opposition for its support for SmartCity.

Replying to Mr Brincat’s statement, Dr Gatt said it was obvious that the Labour Party did not agree that families which to date could not afford it would have broadband internet in their home through a government subsidy.

Mr Brincat felt the government should not take initiatives which the public welcomed – the Blueskies scheme offered a direct government subsidy to those who to date did not have broadband, which they would get for a subsidised e3 (Lm1.29) per month.

This was going to prove popular with those who till now could not pay for broadband internet and had remained without it, or used a dial-up connection, as confirmed by the hundreds of requests for information made to the ministry over the past days. Blueskies would help broadband penetration hugely.

Mr Brincat, Dr Gatt said, was irritated by this. Every time the government introduced an initiative which Mr Brincat knew would be successful, he would call it opportunistic. The government and Dr Gatt owed no one any apology for the success of public initiatives. Maltese families were among the most connected with technology in Europe, Dr Gatt said, urging those who did not have broadband to take advantage of the subsidy being offered.

Registration for the subsidy would be accepted in Merchants Street, Valletta, on 26 January from 9am to 1pm, and at the Gozo Ministry on 27 January from 10am to 1pm.