The Nationalist Party is calling for the withdrawal of the Marsascala marina project which it described as “disproportionate and hasty”.

On Friday, Transport Malta released a call for tenders for the construction of a yacht marina sprawling across Marsascala Bay. The 52-page tender document presents a preliminary design for the marina which sprawls across the whole of the bay and caters for a total of over 700 yachts of varying lengths.

After criticism, on Sunday TM said that what is published is nothing more than a call for those interested in developing a marina.  The process, it said, is at a very early stage.

In a statement on Sunday, the PN said that it is against the project as proposed. The south of Malta needs investment but this must be in harmony with the needs of the community.

It urged the residents and NGOs to resist the government’s idea. The PN also asked the minister responsible, Ian Borg, to confirm whether or not an assessment was carried out on the impact that such a project would have on the area.

The PN said that its minority leader in the Marsascala local council had presented a motion for the government to immediately withdraw the call for tenders.