Labour was willing to consider the proposed tunnel linking Malta to Gozo but spokesman Anton Refalo expressed worry this would ruin the island’s “benefits”, including sharing its hospital with Mellieħa residents.
“Would the permanent link mean people from Mellieħa, only 10 minutes away, come to Gozo General Hospital for their medical needs? Will we lose this? We have to see whether Gozo will lose its benefits. These are the things we have to consider,” Dr Refalo, a Gozitan, said.
Addressing the party general conference last night, Dr Refalo criticised the government for proposing a permanent link between Malta and Gozo when, 15 years after it was promised, the Ċirkewwa ferry terminal had not been done yet and the helicopter link between the two islands was shut down.
Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, who was guest speaker, said Europe needed more socialist prime ministers and governments to make it more transparent and closer to the people by building a social Europe.
It was only natural that present governments were playing on people’s fears “because their fear is they would lose power”. They play on people’s fears by saying if they were not in power, the country would be in chaos, he said.
He warned the Maltese not to fall for people saying Labour leader Joseph Muscat was too young to become Prime Minister or that he was not experienced.
“They did the same with me when I was just 38 and embarked on the electoral campaign. But we won and in four years in government we delivered. We doubled pensions, lowered taxes and reduced the country’s debt by two thirds, now standing at 15 per cent of GDP. Joseph is well known in Europe and he has a strong and united party with a mix of experience and wisdom of the older generation and energy of the younger generation, giving hope to the people of Malta,” he said to loud applause.
Mr Stanishev spoke about the crisis he said was brought about by “speculative capitalism and greed” and joked about the Renzo Piano project and the salary increases for ministers.
“In Bulgaria, the government says it doesn’t have money to pay people’s wages and make up for price increases but it has enough money for a new exhibition hall. Does this remind you of anything? In Bulgaria the government is raising the salaries of the central administration by €70 million. Does this remind you of anything? It is good Joseph and Labour MPs are opposing this. I think it is fair.”
He praised the party for the slogan it chose for the general conference, A Country Our Children Deserve, adding he was confident the party had the right plans for a stronger and more sustainable economy and would ensure the average people benefit from economic growth.
Closing the conference, Labour deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia said the country was in dire need of a change. He criticised the government for spending more than €1.3 million on plans for the City Gate project. The “champion of Christian values”, Austin Gatt, should shoulder the responsibility for the project and the millions of euros being spent.
He lambasted the government for renting out a private property for the Malta Information Technology Agency and for which it was forking out €28,000 a month without utilising any of the vacant government properties, including those in Valletta.
Dr Farrugia compared Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to magician David Copperfield for his illusionist way of governing the country.
The conference ends tomorrow.