A parliamentary committee is due to begin discussing on Tuesday a motion presented by Minister Jesmond Mugliett to grant land underneath City Gate and the Upper Barrakka to the Valletta Connections Consortium for the Vertical Connections project.

This long-discussed project, which would re-introduce the lift that in olden times provided quick access from Customs House to Valletta, and which is sorely needed by the thousands of cruise liner passengers, thus arrives one minute before midnight in Parliament.

It all depends however on when the Prime Minister decides to ask the President to call an election. Tuesday’s discussion will, most

probably, end in non-agreement between the government and the Opposition, which would, in turn, require a discussion by the full House.

ADT had issued a call for applications on 12 December 2006. Two applications were submitted and the one by the Valletta Connections Consortium was chosen. An Economic Impact Assessment was also commissioned and carried out.

If approved, this project will be another way of improving accessibility to Valletta following the introduction of Park & Ride, the elimination of the V-licence, and the introduction of the CVA and the electric mini-cabs transporting people around Valletta. It should then be followed by the introduction of high-speed ferries in Grand Harbour.