Sant calls for corruption cases not to be time barred

Opposition leader Alfred Sant has urged the government to repeal time-bar rules for politicians implicated in corruption.

Pointing out that such a measure would mean that no politician would be exonerated for his ill-doing, irrespective of the passage of time, Dr Sant challenged the Prime Minister to agree to such a proposal if he was really convinced his ministers were clean.

Speaking during a political activity in Paola on Sunday, Dr Sant accused the government of feeling comfortable operating in a climate of bribery and corruption.

He cited, in particular, claims of irregularity at the Mosta local council, the maritime authority and the transport authority, and the reappointment of Malta's Ambassador to Ireland, Richard Muscat.

While the Nationalists are prepared to defend and protect those dabbling in corruption, a new Labour government would adopt a zero-tolerance.

He asked why the Nationalists kept dragging their feet in reaction to an MLP proposal to set up an office run by a magistrate or a judge to specifically investigate cases of bribery and corruption.

Instead, the government persisted in calling on the Labour Party for its input to make the Commission Against Corruption more independent.

But Dr Sant accused the commission of lacking teeth and of failing to take a single effective action under the tenure of Nationalist governments.

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono was in the Labour leader's line of fire as he claimed that the best contracts on the sister island were regularly being awarded to the same company - despite the fact that works fell behind schedule and expenses went over the original estimates.

Likewise, Ms Debono was politically irresponsible by staying mum over the case of a Gozo ministry official who is close to her "politically and personally" and who is being investigated for fraud over school certificates.

Turning to other matters, Dr Sant wondered how the government had the cheek to spend between Lm60,000 and Lm70,000 a month on the "phantom" Mater Dei Hospital bus service while the LifeCycle volunteers struggled to raise much-needed funds for the renal unit.

Repeatedly saying that "the country is going to the dogs," he referred to a case unearthed by the Labour media, which showed that dog carcasses were being dumped at the Sant'Antnin recycling plant instead of being incinerated.

Poking fun at Lawrence Gonzi who is in Australia "kissing kangaroos", Dr Sant said his party would persist with its Sunday political meetings and was well prepared for the election - even if it were to be held as early as October.

In a statement, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono accused the Labour leader of twisting facts to suit his cause.

She insisted that the police were not accusing of fraud anybody in her private secretariat.