The chaos within Labour continues to grow, the Nationalist Party said.

"The accusations made by (former Labour government official) Neville Gafà against Minister Owen Bonnici have not been denied by Robert Abela. On the contrary, Abela continues to go out of his way to defend Bonnici," the PN said.

In recent hours, Neville Gafà spoke about what he described as 'porkerija' (filth) that all Labourites are currently discussing, claiming it was a 'week of extravagance at Fort Ricasoli, which needs €200 million to be restored.' Gafà is exposing the reckless squandering by Owen Bonnici, accusing him of using public funds so that he and his guests could indulge, drink and smoke at the taxpayers' expense."

It is evident that divisions within the Labour Party are growing ever deeper, and Robert Abela finds himself increasingly cornered, unsure of which side to serve, the PN said, the PN said.

"If he is so eager to defend Owen Bonnici and justify the exorbitant expenditure on the Film Festival and elitist parties, Robert Abela should immediately explain in detail how and where millions in public taxes were spent in recent weeks. According to Neville Gafà, the recent spending totalled nearly €14 million. Even Labour's own Special Delegate, Jason Micallef, came out with scathing criticism against Minister Bonnici's misconduct and that of Film Commissioner Johann Grech."

"While a small clique was partying at the Fort, our elderly are still going without out-of-stock medicines and are on waiting lists for care homes, patients remain without a mental health hospital, without a new hospital in Gozo, and with the Paola health hub closed, while investment in our children's schools has dried up. For these, the Labour Government cannot find the funds."

It should not be the citizen who pays the price for Labour's waste and infighting, the PN said.

The PN said it expects Robert Abela and Owen Bonnici to immediately present all invoices related to the Film Festival and any celebration paid for with public funds. "These are the workers' taxes, and workers have a sacred right to know how their money was spent."

The PN said it also expected Robert Abela to immediately deny the allegations being made "by the fascist faction within Labour when it speaks of the open and shameless use of cocaine during these events."

The PN said that, when in government, it was the PN that laid the foundations for Malta's film industry through wise and sustainable investment, including the establishment of the Film Commission and the modernisation of the Malta Film Studios. The PN said it also launched the first cash rebate scheme, which was instrumental in attracting foreign productions to Malta, without placing a disproportionate burden on public funds.

"In contrast, under the Labour Government, public spending has exploded to record levels, squandering more money on festivals and ceremonies than on serious investment in this sector, in local artists, and in Maltese productions. The Labour Government is more interested in splurging money to party at the expense of the Maltese worker than in earning a serious reputation in the international film industry."

"Truly, some are dying for a drop, and others are drunk on excess," the PN said, in its statement signed by Julie Zahra, Shadow Minister for National Heritage, Arts and Culture.

PL replies

After the Nationalist Party made the last years attacking the Film Commission, it has now decided to further increase the dose, the Labour Party said in reply.

The truth is that under a Labour Government the film service industry has become a strong sector that has created a lot of wealth and on which the return on investment has been strong.

Economic reports one after the other were also confirmed by the Auditor General, who in turn stressed that the film service industry has a strong impact in our country's economy, the PL said.

In the last seven years alone, Malta has enjoyed 169 productions with over €635 million film budgets for our country; 8 out of 10 film workers are Maltese; For every euro invested, the film industry generates €3 back into our economy; and in 2023 alone, 18% of the country's economic growth came from films, the PL said.

However, the Nationalist Party remains negative, remaining the party against economic growth, against wealth and against progress.

With a poor and negative policy such as this, then no wonder that the Nationalist Party is said to have €40 million in debt and the only solution to all this is to bring back Tonio Fenech, who is listed in history as the Minister of Finance who has tripled the electricity bills and ruined the Maltese economy, to come back to solve the debt problem at the Dar Ċentrali.

The Labour Party in government is committed to always take lessons and improve its operation to continue to make success after the other but these lessons are not taken by the Nationalist Party.

Instead it will focus and work towards achieving more win-win results, the PL said.