Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday promised the Cottonera people that a Labour government will keep its promises – unlike the Nationalists, and fully implement a project that will give Dock No 1 a facelift. During a dialogue meeting held in Senglea, hundreds of people, including young children, welcomed Dr Sant with chants of “Fredu, Fredu” while waving red flags to the tune of Labour’s election theme song “The Only Way is Up, Labour.”

During his speech, Dr Sant give a timeline of various initiatives and projects proposed by the Nationalist Party to redo Dock No 1 but left it looking like a “broken tooth.”

The list started in 1995, when, said Dr Sant, the PN had promised to introduce a ferry service for the Three Cities – something that was never done.

He went on to list various projects and initiatives promised by different prime ministers. When President Eddie Fenech Adami’s name was mentioned, the crowd started booing loudly.

Dr Sant said that before the election in 1996 was held, the PN distributed a leaflet in Cottonera with a list of projects that were to be implemented. The Opposition Leader started listing these projects among which a bridge, recreation area and a bocci club were mentioned, with the crowd shouting “ole” as each project was mentioned until they started laughing when the list ended.

“Even in 2004, under Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, things remained the same,” he said to a chorus of boos as soon as the prime minister’s name was mentioned.

“A Labour government will implement what it promises – in five years our plans for Dock No 1 will be complete and you can use it,” said Dr Sant to a cheering audience.

He also promised to reduce the surcharge by half as soon as Labour is in government. “People who say that this measure will increase energy consumption don’t know what they are saying. Labour will give detailed plans on how to conserve energy, through the use of solar panels, photovoltaic cells and measures such as double-glazing,” said Dr Sant.

He also promised the crowd that a Labour government will do its best to explore for oil “for the Maltese people.”

The Opposition Leader called on the Nationalist Party to file as many libel suits as they want as “I will continue saying it – there is corruption and abuse within the present government.”

“A recent case of corruption involves parliamentary secretary Tonio Fenech who donated Lm12,000 through a fund for good causes, to a company whose shareholder is the son of the Speaker,” said Dr Sant.