Former Justice Minister Chris Said launched a scathing attack on the government accusing it of failing to keep its promises on Gozo.

He said the Ministry for Gozo no longer had any real authority because most of the important decisions were being taken by the central government. The ministry’s permanent secretary and the consultant for Gozo had “mysteriously” disappeared and someone needed to explain how and why they were removed “under such suspicious circumstances”.

He hinted more would be revealed in the next few months.

It was clear that former parliamentary secretary Franco Mercieca wanted the Gozitan minister’s portfolio. Referring to a recent interview, he said Dr Mercieca was quoted as saying he was not happy at being appointed to head the secretariat for the elderly and “the person who is in the know should know very well which ministry I really wanted”.

The government had promised work in Gozo for the Gozitans. However, what one found now was the infamous “precarious work” even when it came to government contracts. This phrase was no longer being heard and the GWU remained silent.

Recalling what he called the Joseph Muscat’s “gimmick” during the electoral campaign when he crossed to Gozo on the 6am ferry, Dr Said asked whether the Prime Minister had done it again since. Those who commuted every day knew very well that the number of students and workers who crossed over to Malta daily had increased not decreased.

The scheme Ħaddar u Sebbaħ was meant to train 166 people but no replies were forthcoming from the minister about the permanent work that had been promised. It had to be Education Minister Evarist Bartolo who finally confirmed that only nine people had found full-time work.

Dr Said accused the government of withdrawing funds for Eco-Gozo, the Notte Gozitana, Gozo’s stand at the International Trade Fair and the 50th anniversary of independence, when not even flags were flown in Gozo on that historic date. The Gozo courthouse had not been built because the government said it was still consulting about the location.

During the PN administration, all blueprints had been drawn up.

The Labour government had promised the earth about easy access between the two islands but only studies, which never saw the light of day, had materialised. There had been a lot of hype about interest in a casino for Gozo but no bids were submitted. Did they not know the PN government had given a licence to the Kempinski Hotel but it was never used?

Only one bid had been submitted for the marina and cruise liner terminal but the government would not release any information about the consortium involved.

The air strip for Gozo was mentioned for the first time in this Budget speech and Dr Said noted that his call for more information was never met.

The bridge and tunnel proposals were also shrouded in mystery but when Minister Manuel Mallia’s driver’s case cropped up and the government found its back against the wall, a front-page story about a Chinese company that wanted to invest in a bridge materialised.

The environmental impact on Gozo of such a bridge would be disastrous and the PN did not agree with it. Also, the €1 billion price tag for the inter-island bridge made no sense.

Dr Said noted that he had information that the fast ferry service between Mġarr and Valletta had officially been thrown overboard.

Former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi also contributed to the debate.