‘Farmers not consulted over new agriculture funds’ - Nationalist MP

No farmers or shepherds were invited to a recent consultation meeting with regards new schemes involving agriculture funds, Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina said.

“Only a few of their representatives were present at the meeting, nobody who will be directly impacted by the EU funds was present at the meeting,” Bezzina, the PN’s agricultures spokesman said during his parliamentary adjournment.

He also warned that the government’s Agriculture Department also includes Rural Development, meaning that agriculture funds could slip into funds for rural development.

Agriculture funds, he insisted, should be used on agricultural research and on strengthening the agriculture sector.

He also criticised the phasing out of the front-office desk for farmer registrations in favour of an online system.

“Some farmers don’t know how to use the Internet,” Bezzina said. “Will the government train these farmers how to use the new online system?”

In his short adjournment, Bezzina also criticised Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s personal involvement in government negotiations to buy back its 65-year lease on Café Premier for €4.2 million, particularly in light of the fact that businessman Anglu Xuereb had tabled an identical offer to purchase the former cafeteria. He also accused Muscat of betraying Enemalta workers who are now worried that their take-home pay will be lowered.