Around 100 Palumbo shipyard employees this afternoon expressed concern over claims being made by Cospicua residents that works at the shipyard were damaging their cars.

The employees came out of the shipyard during their break, some carrying placards saying they were doing their utmost to improve their operations.

On Saturday, around 150 residents of Cospicua found their cars covered in a fine dust-like layer of “white paint” which, they claimed coated their vehicles when a large Italian ship was sprayed at the Palumbo shipyard.

Employee Richard Carabott said the management had invested a lot in upgrading the shipyard’s systems and methods and certain claims that were being made could endanger the workers' jobs.

He said the workers understood the residents’ concerns but not why they were blaming the shipyard, as the damage could have come from a number of other sources, such as the power stations.

Employees, he said, parked their cars near the shipyard daily and did not find their cars covered in the same white spray.

He asked if someone could be inciting the residents to cause trouble and said that the employees were worried about their livelihood and that of their families.

The demonstration was organised by the employees.