Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has reiterated that he has full confidence in Joe Bannister, the head of MFSA.

In comments to The Malta Independent, Dr Muscat said that he met and spoke with Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo to hear his concerns about Bannister's position. In Parliament and on Facebook, Minister Bartolo has publicly attacked Mr Bannister and alleged that the latter is involved with a company registered in the Cayman Islands which is also considered a tax haven.

The Prime Minister said that Mr Bartolo has some valid points especially regarding the succession process at MFSA. Despite the Minister's repetitive harsh criticism, Dr Muscat has declared that he has full faith in Mr Bannister.

Dr Muscat said that he and Minister Bartolo have 'converging points' on the MFSA's head.

In the latest rant against Bannister, Mr Bartolo insisted he is not on a crusade against MFSA chairman Joe Bannister, and neither is true that he wants the managing director of the Finco Trust Group of Companies, Paul Bonello, to replace Mr Bannister, as has been suggested in sections of the media.

"Paul Bonello has no interest in taking over and I have no interest in pushing him either," Mr Bartolo said during a radio interview. He said he continues to criticize Mr Bannister because he is a person with a public role and "he didn't fulfill his duties".

On Saturday, Independent MP Marlene Farrugia said that MFSA chairman Joe Bannister should be summoned by Parliament in the wake of accusations levelled against him by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo. 

Speaking to journalists following a visit to the Life Science Park in San Gwann, Dr Muscat said that he does not believe that development projects should be suspended until a master plan on development is set up. He said that unless the proposed developments are on ODZ land, they should be allowed to be set up.

Reacting to a call by Marlene Farrugia for a moratorium until a masterplan is set up, Dr Muscat said that "development cannot simply be stopped. The government already has the SPED as its master plan.”

The Prime Minister said that the argument on the reduction of urban sprawl is a valid one and that is why new buildings should be developed in height.  

He said that there needs to be a master plan for the development of the St Georges area. “That is why in the last Budget, the government announced the St Georges Bay Regeneration Corporation.”

Dr Muscat said that the government must also consider parking and traffic challenges in the area.