Regenerating St Paul's Bay

For the past months, Government and the Malta Tourism Authority have been working actively on concrete plans for the regeneration of St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, Qawra and Xemxija.

On Friday morning, as a further step in our consultation process with the key stakeholders, I presided over a meeting at which we explained our projects that are earmarked for the area over the next two years. We are talking of an investment of no less than €7.8 million.

The mayor and councillors of St Paul's Bay, as well as officials from the MHRA, GRTU and the association representing bars and restaurants in St Paul's Bay, were not only present but also took a very proactive role in the discussion that ensued after our presentation.

It was encouraging to listen to the different constructive suggestions that were presented. Everyone present had positive remarks to make as regards the Government projects that are planned.

As I explained at the meeting, we have submitted these projects for partial financing through European Union funds. This form of regeneration will be among the advantages that our membership of the EU is bringing about for the benefit of the people.

I am informed that initial discussions with the European Commission have been positive. On our part, we will be incorporating features that we know are of interest to the Commission - such as energy saving mechanisms to make the project more environment friendly.

The projects announced last Friday need to be seen within the wider context of Government's commitment towards this important tourism zone. Different ministries have over the past months seen to different aspects of the regeneration required in the area.

The Ministry for Tourism and Culture itself has over the past year seen to creating the perched beach at Bugibba that is now fully functional and is being used by hundreds of Maltese persons and tourists who are frequenting the area. The beach is being managed to ensure highest possible standards of cleanliness, safety and back-up facilities that make its use more pleasant and enjoyable.

The Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure for its part has carried out extensive embellishment works in the area. The Ministry of Competitiveness and Competition is moving ahead with a marina project in the Xemxija area, while the ministry responsible for transport is not only seeing to the bypass leading to St Paul's Bay but also to providing the needed parking at Bugibba.

The projects announced last Friday provide for all of St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, Qawra and Xemxija in a holistic manner. In particular, three projects are envisaged: together with the council we are creating a panoramic walkway along the St Paul's Bay coast; we will be setting up a sandy beach in Qawra, as well as an educational and interactive facility in Qawra that will comprise an aquarium, a diving institute, an archaeological maritime attraction, a visitors' centre of the highest calibre, and a Greek theatre for open air events, apart from creating a new landscaped garden and promenade for the area.

I am convinced that this area will not be regenerated only as a summer resort but there will also be at least one major all year round magnet that serves to lessen the seasonality factor.

The projects that Government will be carrying out envisage better access to this resort area, restoration of historic sites and, in general, improving all the amenities as befits one of our foremost tourism zones.

Over the past months, I have had the occasion to visit St Paul's Bay to announce different events that serve as magnets to attract not only more tourists but also Maltese persons from different parts of Malta. I could see all this happening when I joined briefly for a wine festival that was taking place yesterday week. Other events that have already been announced include Musicfest on Thursday and the holding for the first time in the area of the annual air show.

During Friday morning's press event, I also referred to schemes that Government will be launching through which the private sector as well as NGOs can benefit to finance their own projects through EU funding.

The Labour Party's propaganda machine has been expressing surprise and scorn over my Friday event since it was held a day earlier than their own launch of a "new plan/new beginning" for the same area! I wonder why they should have gotten so upset.

Quite frankly, I have no intention to make it easier for the Opposition to recommend to Government to do what, from its own sources apart from public domain information, it would know only too well that Government is doing already!

When we talk about regenerating St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, Qawra and Xemxija, we are not interested in hype, spin and publicity shows. We mean business and concrete actions that produce results.

What a letdown!

For weeks on end, the Labour Party's propaganda machine had told one and all that there is great expectation for their launch, yesterday morning, of what has been dubbed a new beginning for St Paul's Bay, Bugibba, Qawra and Xemxija.

When I went through this document yesterday, I could not help feel what a letdown Labour has again provided for anyone who bothers to fall in for its hype and spin! When you exclude what is ultimately no more than a compendium of what different associations have said about tourism in the area - a kind of précis exercise given to a student preparing for an exam - you are left with only two and half pages of what Labour is supposed to be offering.

Even in that limited space (and then no wonder) there are only vague promises and no meat. The familiar, catchy promise to reduce taxes is there but without any detail, without any quantification of what such an exercise would cost the country, and of course without any analysis of what a Labour Government would introduce instead.

Remember how Dr Alfred Sant as prime minister had, true to his word, removed VAT but substituted it with a higher former of taxation called CET?

There is even a promise that Maltese elderly people would be given an incentive to go on holiday - provided it's to a hotel in the St Paul's Bay area. Again what is the incentive - is it a tax discount, an application to the Tourism Ministry to issue a refund, a points coupon system to exchange for other benefits, and then why not extend such a scheme for Gozo, or other parts of Malta?

For all the praise that Labour unashamedly heaped on itself ahead of the publication of its magic document, it has simply given us a first class letdown.

Another letdown

It was heartening on Friday morning to listen to the President of the European Commission, José Bar-roso, address our own Parliament. He praised our country for what we managed to achieve through EU membership and indicated where we can go further.

At the very outset of his speech, he told us: "Let me firstly express my deep pleasure that next week (this week) I will go the European Council and propose that Malta adopts the euro from January 1, 2008. That is a remarkable achievement for Malta. Your preparations have been excellent. You deserve euro membership - and I think you will benefit from the euro as an anchor of stability and security."

The Prime Minister in his address dealt with various issues, including the question of irregular immigration, that affect our country. He spoke like a true statesman, on behalf of all the people of Malta.

It was finally the turn of the Leader of the Opposition. At least twice he felt he had to tell the President of the European Commission that he will soon be Prime Minster. He also felt that he must give us a lecture about what a great job is being carried out by Labour Members of the European Parliament!

Cannot this man ever rise to the occasion? What another letdown! Does he have to brag so childishly about his political ambitions and to act in such a partisan manner? Who really wants him as our prime minister?

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