The Campaign for National Independence said this evening that it was "disgusted" by the government's plans to privatise Malta Shipyards, saying this was "betrayal of the national interest".

This decision was taken in agreement with the EU but without consultation with the workers or debate in parliament, the group led by former MLP leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici said.

CNI criticised plans to reduce the workforce and recalled that the size of the workforce had been agreed in the dockyard restructuring talks seven years ago.

Everything indicated that the government's plans all along had been to reduce the dockyard and to sell it, and the poor financial results were the justification for this plan to be brought into effect, the group said.

CNI said it could not give its consent for the betrayal of the national interest.