Minister's presence in Cottonera tour defended

Rather than gaining political mileage, the Tourism Minister's presence at a planned tour of Cottonera would again signal the government's strong determination in favour of the area's regeneration, the Ministry for Tourism and Culture said.

The ministry was reacting to a claim by the Cottonera Joint Committee that the proposed presence of the Tourism Minister during a special tour of Cottonera, which the Malta Tourism Authority planned to hold last week for local tourism handling agents, was "changing a commercial activity into a political one" and that "the programme was only going to serve as political mileage for the minister, ruining the commercial aspect".

The tour, scheduled for last Friday, was postponed due to bad weather conditions.

The ministry said it noted that the Cottonera Joint Committee was formed by the mayors of Cottonera local councils and representatives of the Labour Party committees in the area. "As such, it is this committee that should worry whether it is itself acting as a political front to patronise tourism in Cottonera," the ministry said.

The ministry also noted that during a meeting with the chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority, the Cottonera Joint Committee was headed by none other than the Leader of the Opposition, Alfred Sant. On that occasion it said, the Cottonera Joint Committee did not issue a statement condemning the presence of a political figure.

The ministry said the present administration has already done a lot to regenerate the Cottonera area. Not only were historical buildings rehabilitated and restored but a new house for the elderly, a sports pavilion, blocks of flats and other administrative buildings were constructed there.

"The present administration approved a project for the rehabilitation of the Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea waterfront by the Port Cottonera Limited and Cottonera Waterfront. So far a casino and a block of apartments were built on the Vittoriosa waterfront, the Caraffa Stores were restored and a yacht marina was inaugurated. The electricity, water and drainage systems were also strengthened," the ministry said.

It said that one would have thought that the Cottonera Joint Committee appreciates all the hard work put in for Cottonera and would understand that the presence of the minister was meant to entice further tour operators to start organising many more visits to the area and to give another strong signal of the government's strong determination in favour of the regeneration of Cottonera.