PN Leader Bernard Grech has written to the Financial Action Task Force, telling it that a PN government would bring back Malta’s reputation.

This comes after it emerged that three countries – the UK, the US and Germany – voted to have Malta placed on the grey list, despite the country having passed its Moneyval test last month.

In a statement, Grech said the development was of great concern, particularly because of the effect it could have on the financial services sector – a main contributor and employer in the Maltese economy.

“If we are grey listed, we would be losing part of our sovereignty, because we will have foreign governments and institutions telling us what to do.”

Grech said the political responsibility of this lies solely on the Maltese government. “We need a change in mentality, not a ‘tick the box’ exercise, as Prime Minister Robert Abela said. This is all the government’s fault.”

After years of sacrifices, we should never have arrived at this point, he continued. “This surely does not place Malta among the best in the world, as Abela claims, but it does the exact opposite.”

The PN leader said this ‘everything goes’ attitude must stop and the people cannot accept that the government hides things that carry such serious consequences.

The Opposition, he said, has been offering to help the government avoid a grey listing.

“It was for this reason that I have written to the FATF to assure them that, as an alternative government, we would bring back the country’s reputation. We want our country to get back the reputation it once had, and which it deserves.”