Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday promised that a new Labour government will investigate the delays and overruns of the Mgarr and Cirkewwa terminal projects and promised to complete them within six months.

Speaking during a news conference held on site at Cirkewwa, Dr Sant said the terminal projects have been dragging on since 2001 with an overrun of €15.14 million/ Lm6.5 million – an increase of almost 85 per cent over the original cost.

The Opposition Leader said that, since 2001, there were seven different deadlines, starting with Competitive-

ness and Communications Minister Censu Galea promising in 2001 that it would be ready two years later – in 2003.

He gave a list of dates where different deadlines were given.

“On 11 September 2004, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi promised that the Mgarr terminal would be ready by 2005 while the Cirkewwa terminal would be ready by 2006,” he said.

Dr Sant stated that, two months later in September, Minister Galea said in parliament that he was not in a position to give precise details about the Cirkewwa and Mgarr projects.

However, he said, in April 2006, Mr Galea and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, during an on site visit to the Mgarr terminal, said that a final date for the completion of the two projects was never given. During the visit, Mr Galea announced that the Mgarr terminal would be ready in March 2007.

“The two projects have not been completed as the government is still waiting for EU funds,” said Dr Sant.

The Opposition Leader said that the original cost of the terminals increased by €15.14 million/Lm6.5 million between 1999 and 2005.

“The original cost of the project was €18.63 million/Lm8 million but it increased by 85 per cent to €33.78 million/Lm14.5 million – a clear example of what the government means exactly by firmly leading the country: money down the drain,” said Dr Sant.

This project is a clear example of the Nationalist Party’s bad governance – a symbol of their incompetence, he said.

Dr Sant pointed out that there were no investigations into the project’s overruns or why there was no set deadline and promised that if the project is not completed by 8 March, a Labour government will finish it in six months.

Furthermore, he added, a Labour government will also investigate why the project has been delayed and why targets are not being reached.