The Labour Party said today that it could not understand how the government had re-launched the privatisation of the superyachts facility of Malta Shipyards when police investigations were still underway over bribery allegations.

The party said the allegations had been referred to the police eight months after they were made, and only when they were mentioned in Parliament.

While the investigations were still not concluded, and allegations had been made against a person within Mimcol (the government holding agency), it would have been wiser for the government to have awaited the outcome so that it could act as necessary, the PL said.

The party also said there was a lack of coherence within the government. While the privatisation of the superyacht facility was subject to public tendering, the White Rocks project was being granted by direct order without other potential investors having been given the opportunity to submit an offer.