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Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday said the full reform of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority promised yesterday by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi should be taken place five years ago as it always was under his direct responsibility.

Dr Sant, who was speaking to a large crowd in Rabat, was referring to a promise the prime minister made yesterday morning during a press briefing held at Maghtab.

He was warmly greeting by the crowd, who even gathered outside the tent where the discussion was taking place, who welcomed him with chants of “Fredu, Fredu.”

The opposition leader pointed out that Dr Gonzi, who he constantly referred to as the care taker, had promised to take Mepa under his wing and be directly responsible for its actions and a full reform.

“However, how can the prime minister say that he was not directly responsible for Mepa and what was going on for the past five years?” queried Dr Sant and added that the minister who is responsible for Mepa, Rural Affairs and Environment Pullicino, was not even present during the press conference at Maghtab.

He went on to say that Dr Gonzi knew that there was corruption because he had personally been informed.

“I know people who went to speak to Dr Gonzi personally and told him about the bad practices and the corruption in Mepa,” said Dr Sant.

“However, all he did was offer them a coffee – sometimes two – and say ‘yes, yes’ and leave it at that,” he said to a laughing audience.

The corruption in Mepa was so obvious that even the archbishop issued a statement about it, he added.

Dr Sant said that a Labour government will change all this and give the country the serious leadership it truly needs.

“We will give you this change – the change you are asking for,” he said.

Dr Sant also mentioned the various housing proposals, announced during a press conference held yesterday morning, that will be implemented under a Labour government.

He also spoke about the surcharge and promised to give further details next week about how it will be reduced for small businesses.

“The reduction of the surcharge will be calculated in a different way for small businesses – we will tell you all next week,” said Dr Sant.