Minister Chris Bonett must tell the truth when he speaks about his Ministry's work on radio, the Nationalist Party said Thursday.

In a statement signed by all PN local councillors for Msida, the PN said the minister went on radio and claimed that the entire Msida Local Council, except for one person, now agrees with the flyover. Minister Bonett knows very well that this is a lie, and he is fully aware that an official vote by the Local Council proves otherwise.

The Minister knows that despite the cordiality shown during meetings with the mayor, Charles Selvaggi has always made it clear - even when he was Minority Leader - that while the project itself is beneficial, the flyover is unnecessary. He has confirmed this every time he has met with the Minister since taking office as Mayor last July.

The Council has always cooperated with the authorities and will continue to do so because it prioritises the interests of Msida's residents above all else, the PN said.

However, the same cannot be said about the government. The agency responsible for the Msida flyover is disregarding the local council and the residents of Msida by:

1.  Operating as it pleases, failing to adhere to any of the timeframes or work schedules originally provided;

2.  Destroying public property, such as the square's lighting, which had only been installed a few years ago. The Council, despite its extremely limited funds, had spent thousands of euros on this infrastructure. These funds could have been used elsewhere had the work been carried out more carefully or if the Council had been informed in advance to remove them;

3.  Refusing to provide information to the Council's liaison officer, who is constantly met with closed doors. Even when information is given, it changes from one day to the next;

4.  Neglecting proper planning, which has left residents with no available parking. The drastic reduction in parking spaces has led to residents being fined indiscriminately. The Government failed to consider residents' needs, and the only space left for them to park is in an area that was originally designated for the construction of a retirement home for Msida's elderly years ago;

5.  Showing a complete lack of foresight and safety measures in areas where work is taking place, leading to accidents and injuries. Examples include pedestrian pathways that become impassable when it rains or when water is pumped out; weeks-long blackouts on pathways used by pedestrians; and uneven, poorly maintained walkways that are unsafe for individuals with mobility difficulties.

The people of Msida have endured enough, the PN said. The centre of Msida now resembles a war zone. The local council is cooperating, but this does not mean that the residents are happy, nor does it mean that the project is proceeding according to the timeframes initially set by Infrastructure Malta.

If the minister believes that the residents of Msida are satisfied with the flyover project, he is proving just how out of touch he is with the realities of the people and how little he has engaged with the residents themselves.

The Local Council has always opposed, and will continue to oppose, the construction of the flyover in the centre of Msida, the PN said.

The traffic diversions implemented so far have already alleviated the congestion in the area. This confirms that the flyover is unnecessary and that it would have been far more sensible for the government to first address the bottleneck near the skatepark, an area that the government itself admitted to the council will remain problematic even with the flyover in place. In fact, once the flyover is completed, additional works will have to begin in this area.

But the government was determined to build the flyover in Msida, and nothing was going to stop it. It even refused to consider alternative solutions, based on a report that it has never published and has kept hidden from everyone, the PN said.

The five Partit Nazzjonalista Local Councillors in Msida are all firmly against the flyover.

The minister had no right to single out and attack one Councillor for his own partisan purposes, especially when it has been made crystal clear in meetings with him that all PN Councillors oppose the construction of the flyover.

The Nationalist Party wants to turn the clock back on the Msida Creek project - PL

For 25 years, when in government, the Nationalist Party gave its back to the residents of Msida by failing to address the flooding problem that has been a persistent issue to this community for years, the Labour Party said in responde.

"It is obvious that the PN is not amused by the rapid pace of the ongoing works in Msida. In a statement issued earlier today by the PN, it is clear that is the PN that wants to turn the clock back on this matter."

The rapid pace of the works testifies to the commitment that this government has to carry out this major project with the least convenience and in the best interest of the Msida community, the PL said.

"Infrastructure Malta has always kept the Msida Local Council updated and informed of every phase of the project and cooperated in the requests made by the same Council where necessary. Infrastructure Malta has also always been in constant contact with the council's liaison officer in all circumstances."

It said that there will be a more modern, and secure lighting system at the heart of this project.

" To mitigate the parking challenges, and because the inconvenience faced by residents is understood," Infrastructure Malta identified a site for temporary use by residents, the PL said.

"As evidenced by the minutes recorded at the Local Council meetings held in a previous council, all Labour and Nationalist Councillors had agreed to this project which will include a fly-over building, and 60% new open spaces (2,000 square meters pedestrian square, new swings, new public conveniences, parking lots, cycling lane and a 300 meters long watercourse to prevent rainwater-induced flooding)."

"Whenever a labour government carried out ambitious projects, it has always found resistance from the PN. The people trust this government to act and reform. It shall continue to do so."