Gonzi promises Mepa reply to black soot problem

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has promised the opposition that as of today, he would ask Mepa officials to start collating all material – including an inconclusive report – into what was causing the black soot problem over the south of the island.

Answering a number of questions from both opposition and government MPs, Dr Gonzi said that all this material, would be laid on the Table of the House if the opposition deemed it fit to put a parliamentary question. If not, Mepa would be asked to issue a public statement.

Dr Gonzi said that there was nothing secret or sinister or that the government should be ashamed of in the report. Experts had analysed the black soot since August but they did not arrive at a conclusion as to from where this was emanating from.

If it came from the Marsa power station, then it should have two particular chemicals which, in effect were not present. In the eighties it was also perceived that the soot came from sandblasting works being carried out at the dockyards. Steps had been taken to rectify the situation.

Leader of the opposition Joseph Muscat asked Dr Gonzi why, when he had given such an explanation, he chose to say that an answer to a number of questions on the matter, which were on the order paper, would be given in some other sitting.

Dr Gonzi said that one could never win with the opposition. He had tried to give the best explanation possible on the basis of information he had at hand, but the opposition was taking a negative attitude.

In face of this, the prime minister then sat down.