Gatt highlights new projects, improved transport services

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told Parliament that the PN in government was determined to keep investing in projects because this not only improved Malta’s infrastructure but also stimulated the economy in times of crisis.

Dr Gatt highlighted the progress made in the transport service in general, including routes covering a much wider area, polite drivers and better buses – a stark contrast from the old system, where routes hardly ever changed in 40 years.

The minister announced that the government would be investing €263 million in the Maltese economy over 2012 and 2013 to sustain economic growth and employment. How could the opposition argue that the government was not investing?

The plans for the entrance of Valletta, including the Tritons Fountain, were being altered in consultation with Mepa. This part of the project, costing €5 million, would be completed in 2013.

Listing other projects, Dr Gatt said 250 parking places would be created in a new car park instead of the steps at the Independence Arena, at a cost of €850,000.

Transport Malta had completed 11 streets, that were local councils’ responsibility, at a cost of €2 million. Since the beginning of this legislature, the government would have invested €3.7 million on roads that were the responsibility of local councils.

It had also invested €5 million on residential streets, bringing the total investment since 2008 to €17 million on 358 such streets. All residential streets built up to 70 per cent would be completely built next year.

The government would have invested €110 million solely on roads: an average of €22 million a year. Council of Europe and Garibaldi roads would be completed by June year.

The government has completed the Lascaris Wharf (€500,000), emergency works in St Elmo (€64 million), bus termini (€6.5 million) and St Elmo bridge (€2.5 million).

A call for tenders would be issued shortly for the operation of ferry services in Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, thus offering an alternative to bus services. The Grand Harbour ferry service would be complemented by the new Barrakka lift. There were also other works in St Elmo where €17 million of €20 million were EU funds.

The fish market and adjacent property would be converted into a boutique hotel. This would be an investment of €5 million and it was expected that Mepa would issue permits next year. Boffa Hospital would also be converted into a 90- to 100-room hotel.

Dr Gatt said that the Ċirkewwa terminal (€12.8 million) and the Marsaxlokk breakwater (€10 million) would be completed next year. This meant that between 2010 and 2011, the government would have pumped €200 million, which would have resulted in workers’ salaries, better environment and more access to the Maltese.

Turning to SmartCity, Dr Gatt said that while Labour MP Michael Farrugia said the government had already spent €14 million to compensate landowners and to close factories, he did not say that the government was in turn given a nine per cent share of the project.

Speaking on IT, the minister said Malta had the best system of e-government in the EU for the third consecutive time. With the introduction of e-procurement, less paper was used in tenders. E-learning has revolutionised education.

Turning to the bus service, Dr Gatt said that substantial progress was being made. Arriva had promised to have its IT system working well by December 19.

Measures were also being taken to improve ticket sales, reducing time wasting on on-board ticketing. Progress had been made on punctuality but more needed to be done in this sector.

It was incredible, Dr Gatt said, that Joseph Muscat in his 51 proposals had never mentioned public transport.

Had he forgotten it, didn’t he consider it important, or was he subconsciously admitting that the bus reform was working?

The opposition had argued that Claudio Grech’s position in the PN was incompatible to his position as Mita chairman. Nonetheless, it found no problem with Tony Sultana being a Mita official and at the same time member of the Electoral Commission, nominated by Dr Muscat.