Gonzi’s ‘terrible’ vote experience

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday described last week’s vote in Parliament against EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana as a “terrible experience” for which consequences must be shouldered.

I have been saying we’re going through a delicate moment

He said it was “shameful” that Mr Cachia Caruana was forced to step down in the midst of important negotiations with the EU on Malta’s financial package for the years between 2013 and 2020.

“I have been saying that we are going through a delicate moment...

“If things are not done properly Malta can lose half a billion euro. And what do I find? The opposition trying and managing to trip up the person who can give the best contribution, to stop him doing his job.”

Dr Gonzi said people abroad had questioned how such behaviour could take place in an EU country.

“The PN executive has spoken... clearly and unanimously... and those who were responsible for Monday’s vote and the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici must shoulder their responsibility. They cannot think there will be no consequences,” he said, referring to the PN’s condemnation of the three rebel MPs Franco Debono, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett.

Dr Gonzi was speaking during his weekly Sunday meeting, with a difference. Held at PN headquarters, it was broadcast on Net TV and on the website mychoice.pn, where people could send in questions.

Integrating some questions into his speech, Dr Gonzi lashed out at Labour, saying its recent behaviour, particularly its attempts to cross out people from the electoral register, displayed “the worst of old Labour”.

Dr Gonzi also spoke of his day with Marija Hammett, who won the PN’s competition Be a Prime Minister for a Day, which he acknowledged coincided with a very “difficult” day – the aftermath of a second lost vote in Parliament.

A finalist in the contest, Joanne Ellul Lanfranco, was also given the chance yesterday to explain her proposal, which is to create a specialised inpatient treatment centre for people with eating disorders.

Dr Gonzi said this was coincidental as the President had suggested a similar initiative, being worked on with Health Minister Joe Cassar.

The idea was mainly for the government to partner with the Malta Community Chest Fund to provide a specialised alternative to centres like Mount Carmel Hospital.

“Without giving all the details now, I hope in the weeks to come we will announce the project,” he said.

The new cancer hospital is also being finished according to the government’s targets.

Meanwhile, the government was looking at ways of creating more water parks, such as the one inaugurated on Saturday at Buġibba, in Gozo and in the south of Malta.

Dr Gonzi said he was expecting a reply from the European Commission on Air Malta’s restructuring plan in the coming days.

Referring to the Opposition’s recent visit to the Methode factory, Dr Gonzi said the company’s plans to expand were a testimony to the government’s success. He guaranteed he would give the space needed to the manufacturing sector.