Prime Minister Robert Abela announced on Sunday that an international firm of experts has been appointed to draft a plan that will lead to the regeneration of the Grand Harbour.

Abela, during a political activity in Birgu on Sunday, said that the PN is in chaos, announced the drafting of the aforementioned masterplan, and also spoke about Manoel Island.

Speaking about Cottonera, he said that today it has become one of the most beautiful areas to live in.

"As we did with Cottonera, now I want to see the best regeneration ever made in the rest of the Grand Harbour. It is a dream we will implement. We have been speaking about it since 2009, now the time for action has come. Regeneration where the people will be the priority, to enjoy the best spaces, and to give value and quality to zones and sites which, today, might be experiencing some abandonment."

He said that Marsa has enormous potential "to become one of the most beautiful zones in this country, and that is what the people who live in Marsa deserve, and that is what we will give them."

This is when Abela announced that the government appointed an international firm of experts, "who started drawing up a clear and strategic plan, so that by the end of the year we will have a holistic masterplan through which the regeneration of the whole Grand Harbour will be initiated. We don't want to give the Grand Harbour black dust as others did, but rather quality investment that creates wealth."

During his speech in Birgu, Abela also spoke about Manoel Island.

"In the electoral manifesto, we promised that my government will give you more open green spaces, and more people where families can spend quality time together. That is why the question of Manoel island is one that I dove into with conviction."

"Someone told us that this is only a beautiful dream that cannot be implemented due to contractual obligations," he said, in reference to a statement that had been made by PN Leader Bernard Grech.

"For me it is a clear target that we will implement despite the contractual obligations."

He took aim at former PN governments for allowing the development at Tigne Point to turn out the way it did. "When you look at the contract in 2000, when it was given they saw to drafting a good masterplan for Tigne Point, but then after they signed the contract, they allowed development that completely broke that masterplan to occur and created a model of unsustainable development."

"I will not permit that to happen to Manoel Island."

Abela said that in the first meeting he had with MIDI "I spoke clearly, that new construction on Manoel Island will not start and will not happen. That was the main message I gave them."

Abela said that "our work now is that what was meant to have been done far better 25 years ago, that ties the government contractually for 99 years , it is up to us to find a solution for. I want Manoel Island to be a jewel for all Maltese people, on which I want to see children playing, families walking and exercising, reading on benches, where plants, flowers and trees dominate. The start is that it will not be built up," he said, mentioning that then there would be a "fantastic project" for it, which includes the restoration of the historic buildings and for the best use to be made out of them.

Abela said that "we will reach that point."

Abela also made reference to the Nationalist Party, saying that it is in chaos and internal conflict.

Abela said that the Labour Party has a responsibility to offer stability and direction for the country, and that the Government must remain focused on the well-being of all Gozitans and Maltese people, regardless of their political affiliation.

The Prime Minister said that quality of life means families can enjoy the upcoming summer with serenity and security, with the Government committed to continuing to offer a better and more social Malta. He maintained that for this reason, the Government wants to remain focused on pensioners getting better pensions again, more increases in the children's allowance, more stability in energy prices, more schemes for first-time buyers, and many other social measures.

He questioned what would have happened had the PN been in government during the pandemic, or at a time of international energy crisis.

The Prime Minister said that, in contrast to the past, since 2013 the Labour Government has been making good decisions and remains focused on continuing to work for Malta. He emphasized that, through concrete decisions and a clear sense of direction, the Government is offering hope to the country through more jobs and opportunities. Abela stated that he is leading a country with one of the best economies in the European Union, not only today but also for the future.

Abela said that every day the Government must work with humility and continue to convince more people who had been hurt. He stressed that by doing this, they remain a winning movement that keeps renewing itself and bringing more ambitious reforms. The Prime Minister said that in unity there is strength, the strength in favour of our country.

The political activity was also addressed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg. He said that in our country this week a disaster was avoided when a building collapsed in St. Julian's, and he asserted that the protection and safety systems are working because timely action was taken.

"Let us investigate what happened," he said. "Let us continue seeing what improvement and reforms are needed, and ensure that we have safe buildings, and here I am not just talking about during construction, but throughout the life of that building."

He also spoke about what is happening within the Nationalist Party (PN), describing it as complete chaos fuelled by internal fighting, and spoke of how much the PN cannot be trusted to lead the country. He said that while others are in chaos, the Labour Party in government is ensuring stability and certainty.