Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today that BWSC had accepted responsibility for the damage suffered by the power station extension and will make good for damages suffered by Malta.
Speaking in Mellieha, he said the damage happening during testing while the plant was under guarantee, and BWSC was assuming responsibility.
On John Dalli's resignation, Dr Gonzi said he was proud to have nominated Tonio Borg to serve as European Commissioner and close the chapter
He said Mr Dalli's resignation was a shock and brought about sadness in the country. This was a serious situation which needed to be tackled with urgency. After the necessary consultations, he had therefore asked Dr Borg to serve the country in Brussels.
Dr Borg was a serious, competent person, with undoubted integrity and values who would be a worthy representative of the country, Dr Gonzi said.
A process now had to be followed, including approval by the Council and the European Parliament, but he was confident that Dr Borg's competence would prevail.
Dr Gonzi said that he had also asked Dr Borg to make the sacrifice of resigning his post as deputy leader of the PN, since he was expected to be represent the whole country in the EU.
Until the confirmation process was complete, Dr Borg would retain his government posts and remain an MP, but in order to show the importance of his new post, which was above politics, he was resigning from the PN deputy leadership.
Dr Gonzi said the legislature was drawing to a close. The government was working on the Budget but there also remained the need to persuade the people that it was only the PN which was an assurance of a sure future.
The PN was clear in its policies and plans and was not hiding anything from the people, as Labour was doing.
The PN was being clear that its priorities were jobs, health and education. It was no coincidence that a survey showed that 82% of the people were satisfied with healthcare services.
The PL leader was keeping his mouth closed about what a Labour government would do. This was a pointer of things to come, Dr Gonzi said. But the people knew where they stood and what to expect from the Nationalist Party.
PL ASKS THE PM TO EXPLAIN
In a statement, the Labour Party noted that yesterday the finance minister was saying that BWSC had to assume its responsibilities. Today the prime minister was saying that BWSC had done so.
It asked what had taken place in the past 24 hours and what damages the contractor would actually made good for.