Sant pledges to complete new terminals within six months

The terminal projects at the Ċirkewwa and Mġarr quays, work on which has dragged on for years, will be completed within six months of a Labour victory, party leader Alfred Sant promised yesterday.

The two projects were a clear example of the bad governance of the Nationalist Administration and a Labour government would investigate why the work had fallen back by more than five years, incurring higher costs.

Braving the strong northeast winds at Ċirkewwa, Dr Sant said the original expense of Lm8 million (€18.6 million) in 1999 had rocketed to Lm14.5 million (€33.8 million) in 2005 and his party was informed that the cost now stood at Lm16 million (€37.3 million), and still running. The projects have exceeded the original cost by Lm6.5 million (€15.1 million) or by 85 per cent.

"This exposes the lack of accountability. Despite all this, there is still no clear dateline for completion. Time is money and we are promising, as part of our approach for a tranquil change, to reverse the situation," he said.

He added that there were no fewer than seven completion dates over the years, as work kept being postponed year after year, with the government now waiting to receive EU funds.

Asked if his ministers would be expected to resign if they did not deliver their projects on the stipulated date and within the established budget, Dr Sant smiled and replied that his party will never be as inefficient as the present government.

During question time, Dr Sant was also asked about his commitment to pursue the abandoned oil exploration project and strike oil and he said there was a good chance of this happening.

He was also asked if the party planned to field any surprise candidates for the general election but Dr Sant stressed that Labour's plans were not built on the basis of surprises.

"We're prepared," he said.