Somebody told me that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat “promised” (he is fond of promises) that the gas tanker would remain in Marsaxlokk bay until a gas pipeline from Italy is in place.

I hope that this news will now receive the applause of the people of the villages who are clamouring against the placing of the tanker in Marsaxlokk harbour. I do not know, at this point, whether the Prime Minister gave the number of days, months or years it will take to have this pipeline in place.

In the meantime, I hope that the fishermen will have their say as to whether they are happy or otherwise with this arrangement.

I would like to think that voting considerations were kept in mind by Muscat when he decided to make this declaration.