The Labour Party’s energy plan was “disintegrating”, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told a political event in Gozo yesterday.

Everything that was done in Gozo was done by Nationalists

He warned of the “dramatic” repercussions of Labour’s energy proposal, warning it would push the country “gas down” into a brick wall, putting its future at risk.

He said that, contrary to what Labour was proposing, its energy plan would raise tariffs rather than reduce them.

Speaking in Nadur, Dr Gonzi said that people had to choose between the secure future the Nationalist Party was offering and Labour’s energy plan, “which is disintegrating”.

The first week of electioneering exposed the stark difference between the two parties, he noted.

“We are promising a secure future while Labour’s first proposal is endangering the country’s future and stability. Tariffs will increase and will lead to factories and hotels closing down,” he warned.

He said the foreign consultants engaged by the Labour Party concluded that the best solution was the gas pipeline with Sicily, which was what the PN was proposing.

“We made mistakes and we learnt from those mistakes but we delivered and the results show that Malta is among the best in Europe. We will continue explaining and revealing more of our plans so that people will make the best choices for the country,” he said.

Dr Gonzi said Gozo was at the heart of his party’s policies and explained in detail the plans it had for the island.

“Everything that was done in Gozo was done by the PN,” he said to loud applause.

Referring to the party’s plans for Gozo that were unveiled on Saturday, Dr Gonzi said the tourism plan ensured the sister island’s economy thrived and that jobs were created there for the Gozitans.

He said more cruise ships would visit Gozo and pledged a fast, efficient ferry service from Grand Harbour.

A future PN government would offer new schemes to encourage incentive travel to Gozo.

It would also launch a €300,000 scheme for hotels to improve their services. In this context, he said the Government would facilitate projects proposed by hotels when being processed by the planning authority, warning that rules cannot be broken.

Four- and three-star hotels as well as farmhouses used for accommodation would also benefit from financial incentives for upgrading.

He pledged further incentives for SMEs in Gozo, including income tax cuts for those who opened any business there and employed Gozitan residents.

New measures would also be introduced for cheaper ferry crossings for those who stayed in Gozo overnight and for groups.

The cost of licences would be drastically reduced for Gozo-related businesses. The Gozo Ministry would be supplemented by a Gozo Regional Council – which would include MPs elected from the island – tasked with passing related by-laws.

Regarding the possibility of an undersea tunnel linking Gozo to Malta, Dr Gonzi said the Government had issued a tender for an in-depth feasibility study and, if found financially feasible, the PN would give it priority.

This, he said, would create more employment opportunities in Gozo.

PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil said Labour leader Joseph Muscat had no credibility to defend his energy plan because of the bad advice and decisions taken in the past.

“It is crucial for the country that the PN wins the election because its future is at stake. We gave a secure past and present and with our heads held high we can promise a secure future,” he said.

During the event, PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier launched the electoral campaign song called Futur fis-sod (the party’s electoral slogan) with lyrics by Joe Chircop, music by Mark Spiteri Lucas and production by Sean Vella.

Just like the EU referendum ­campaign, it is performed by a number of singers and Net TV presenters.

Later yesterday, Dr Gonzi told people who attended the party’s 41st annual Ikla mal-Ħbieb that Gozo was at the centre of the party’s attention because “it makes sense”.

“Gozo is like a diamond that attracts tourists and Maltese and those who invested on this island because of its value added,” he said as he listed the party’s plans and proposals.

“Every day of the next eight weeks is a race, a race against time to explain our proposals and the choice people have.

“We have to explain the dramatic repercussions of Labour’s energy proposals. Let’s all work for a secure future,” he said.

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