Prime Minister Robert Abela made a devil’s pact in order to protect ex-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri, and Chris Cardona amongst others, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said during a political rally on Sunday.

Grech said this as a justification for his claim that the current Prime Minister doesn’t care about the problems of the man on the street, as the public is increasingly coming into contact with the rising cost of living crisis.

Also speaking at the event were PN MP Rebekah Borg and PN Secretary General Michael Piccinino.

“You don’t meet anyone who doesn’t speak about increasing prices nowadays,” Grech remarked.

“These are the stories that people are living, the stories that are supposed to make the PM realise that the increase of prices is a wound that people are feeling today. How can Ministers address the problems of the people if they don’t even know the price of basic amenities?” Grech asked.

As a measure to mitigate the problem, Abela last week announced that the government will be giving cheques to over 250,000 workers, costing the government €26 million.

“When he sends a cheque, he doesn’t intend on addressing the problems of the people,” said Grech, before adding that, with this measure “he’s admitting that he robbed you in the first place because these are tax refund cheques.” 

Grech said that “the government has been stealing from the people for many years, including in the water and electricity bills. When you receive your bills today, there’s a small amount deducted from the final count, and this is only thanks to the PN.”

“Every day more people are finding their bills increasing, so we will continue to investigate this.”

Grech said that this is the reality that people are facing, thanks to a government that has lost all sense of control and that has wasted the money of the those who are truly in need.

“Hundreds of millions of euros were spent by the government, but these funds went to Vitals and Steward, rather than to the nurses and carers who are most in need.”

“They then tell us that we’re exaggerating. But what does this mean? Are you not seeing the soup kitchens that are increasing? Are you not seeing the statistics that more people are in danger of becoming poor?”

“They don’t care because they’re comfortable; their plates are full, so how can they feel the pain that others are feeling?” Grech asked.

The PN leader said that it has been over two and a half months since the Vitals case was handed down and the courts clearly stated that these contracts never should have occurred.

“Whoever hides the truth needs to be held accountable for their actions. Abela made a deal with Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri and others, so that he can continue to protect them and is therefore an accomplice,” said Grech.

“Abela is comprised,” he said.

“Of course, he is not interested in the problems of the people because he only cares about building his villa in Zejtun, about power and money. But the more he tries to fix his appearances, the more the people realise how worried and deaf Abela really is,” he said. 

Grech also mentioned Desmond Zammit Marmara’s recent article in the Times of Malta, who urged the public “not to vote for Labour, if you want to make Labour even better,” and ex-Xaghra mayor Christian Zammit’s resignation, which Grech said was “because he doesn’t want to mix in with the dirt of the PL. And these are only the public cases, imagine how many other cases there are stewing below.”

“And don’t think that the Abela is alone, since every time we went to Parliament to present a motion against a corrupt deal, we found all the PL ministers defending these deals.”

Grech said that the biggest sign that the people have lost trust in the government was that even the young want to escape the country in droves, and is the reason “why we insist on building an economy that works for the people.”

“There’s only one party who’s heart is with the people and who is offering the solutions that the people need. Everyone wins with the PN,” he concluded.

PN MP Rebekah Borg meanwhile spoke about the need to foster a meritocracy as well as greater transparency in government administrations.

“All the work that I’m doing is done for the people and I believe that even a small difference in every person’s life can really count,” she said.

“I want to make sure that the family is respected, that a normal pay can last you until the end of the month, and that there’s a bit of extra money to enjoy the family since work is not work all there is to life.”

Borg spoke about the cost of living crisis and, in relation to the cheques to be handed out by the government, said “the PN is in favour of all help given to families but we don’t want them to be dependent on government handouts.”

“We wish that opportunities are available for everyone,” Borg, a soon-to-be mother, said before adding that she wishes to see her daughter succeed “based on her own merits.”

With regards to the present state of the construction industry, Borg said that “while I understand that the development cannot end, the problem lies with how it’s carried out,” saying that she will continue fighting irregular developments that are not befitting of this country.

“We also want the administration of public lands to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the authority is riddled with problems and is now a tool used for the gain of the few, led by people who are there to please the minister,” said Borg.

“If land is granted legally, then there should be no issues, but there are grave doubts on the transparency regarding these concessions, as there are plenty of secrets in the business,” she went on.

“A year ago, I asked a Parliamentary Question about the concession of public lands in Armier and Comino; the only answers I have so far received include the response that this information is commercially sensitive. But how can this be when this land is supposed to be enjoyed by the public, and when the Prime Minster himself says that public have a sacrosanct right to enjoy these public lands?”

“Where was this right when the Vitals contracts went through? When they threatened to turn the Gzira garden into a petrol station? What about the contracts regarding the American University of Malta?

“When I asked Education Minister Clifton Grima Education Minister about information regarding this university, the Minister completely ignored my request and misguided the entire Parliament by offering irrelevant information.”

“Lastly, I would like to openly state that if Minister for European Funds and Lands Silvio Schembri will continue to try to embarrass me, then this will only continue to push me to seek justice.”

Borg was referring to an incident in Parliament where she had asked Minister Schembri to explain who owns his Luqa constituency office and, instead of answering, he made fun of the Opposition MP's inquiries and implied that she was unfamiliar with the House's standing orders.

“We will not give up in this fight,” she concluded.