Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning avoided giving a direct answer on whether he believes that the government had been transparent when the 11 contracts made public yesterday by the opposition were signed just two days before legal notices removing the need for Parliament to debate any future land transfers by Enemalta were published.

The Prime Minister said that “I believe the Opposition cannot stomach the fact that for a company the PN government wanted to sell for 1 euro, this government managed to receive 300 million euros for a third of it”.

Asked why government did not publish these contracts, if they were made public as the Energy Ministry said yesterday, in Parliament when the Opposition had made such a request last year, the Prime Minister said - “the Opposition was asleep in Parliament as the issues regarding the transfers were brought up in Parliament and explained. What happened was government made use of a clause from the contract with Vault Ltd. He said that Vault Ltd is a special purpose vehicle that was formed under the PN through agreement by both sides to finance Enemalta debt. It was simply a transaction between one government company and another”. He said the government has a right to do this.

As for Gozo Minister Anton Refalo and the “free construction works” allegations, the Prime Minister said that one by one the allegations have been answered". He said that each year farmers were given compensation for drainage in their fields, and instead this year government has chosen to undertake works rather than pay compensation.

Turning to the Giovanna Debono situation, asked why the investigation is taking so long, the Prime Minister explained that “It is not my job to ask them for updates. From what I can understand, in order for the police to take the case to court, they require all necessary data. What I do know is that there is an official whistleblower, and is now formally protected. This is the information I have. As for the length of time police are taking on the investigation, it is not in my competence to discuss”.