Muscat: 'Busuttil’s theatrics in parliament would have one think we are in a third world country’

Joseph Muscat says Toni Bezzina ODZ application now a case of potential fraud

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Simon Busuttil's 'theatrics' in parliament would have one think Malta is a third world country
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Simon Busuttil's 'theatrics' in parliament would have one think Malta is a third world country

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has accused the leader of the Opposition of acting irresponsibly, when he claims that he will tear up contracts signed by the government once in power.

“That a person with a constitutional role, goes to parliament, the highest institution in the land, and tears up a contract is something that happens in the third world,” said Muscat.

He argued that there are many contracts that he would have liked to tear up however, he said, he appreciates that he has a responsibility to act in the interests of the country.

“If we allow investors to get the impression that a contract signed in Malta is worthless because a new government can go back on it, the country and ultimately workers, will be worse off,” he said.

Respecting contracts signed by previous administrations is a “basic principle” that has been understood by past Prime Ministers from both political parties said Muscat, adding that the country must be seen to honour its commitments in order to be respected. “If you have not understood this basic principle, you are not fit to govern the country.”

Muscat was speaking during an interview that aired on ONE radio on Sunday morning, where he discussed Enemalta among other subjects.

Referring to a report by Standard and Poor’s (S&P) that was published this week and which gave a positive outlook on the state-owned energy company, Muscat once again said that Enemalta’s progress must be viewed in light of the fact that in the past the country had a minister that said he would sell Enemalta for €1 if he could.

He stressed that because of the governments energy plan, water and electricity tariffs had gone down, workers at Enemalta did not have to worry about job security and most importantly, the company was no longer a burden on the tax-payer.

According to the Prime Minister, the only negative observation made by S&P, was that if the plan that Enemalta has embarked on is not followed in the future, Enemalta would face problems once again. “We have no intention of changing our plan, so they are essentially referring to Simon Busuttil and his theatrics in parliament,” he said

 

Toni Bezzina

Earlier during a phone-in on ONE radio, Muscat referred to a report published in Kullhadd, in which it is alleged that Nationalist MP Toni Bezzina falsified plans for a piece of land he intended to build a villa on, in order to have it accepted under a particular scheme.

“The story merits attention,” he said. “This means fraud, It is no longer a matter of the Opposition leader saying that the application has been withdrawn. This is now a case of potential fraud.”

Muscat said in order for Bezzina to have applied for the policy in question, the land needed to have an existing structure that is of a “certain size.”  The report, he said, shows that Bezzina made up rooms in the plan for him to apply under the policy.

“Without the structure, the value of the land would be very different to what it is now and it also means he would not have been able to submit an application.”

 

Car Bombs

Turning to the car bomb that exploded in Msida on Monday, Muscat said that the cabinet was, like the rest of the country, in shock. “For it to have happened in that part of the country is shocking, I was driving through there myself just 15 minutes before,” said Muscat.

He said that the biggest fear for any citizen is that someone who is not involved or the intended victim gets hurt in an attack, adding that it is important for the government to send a “clear message.”

Following the bombing, Muscat said the cabinet had listened to what the Police Commissioner said is needed to tackle the issue. “We have given more resources. I will obviously not comment on what these resources are because that would defeat the purpose.”

Moreover, Muscat said that justice minister Owen Bonnici has been given a mandate to investigate whether there are lacunae in Maltese law that are hindering investigations into organised crime.  

He also slammed the Opposition’s initial reaction to the bombings and pointed out that when in Opposition, the Labour Party never politicised similar incidents. “I did not dream of politicising the incident when someone entered a bar with an AK-47 and opened fire on an individual”

 

Panama Papers fallout

Muscat said that he now believes that his silence following insinuations that he is the owner of a third Panamanian company by the Opposition following the Panama Papers revelations, was a mistake and accused Busuttil of being a liar who is happy to make accusations, but then baulks at the prospect of having to prove or substantiate them.   

“I wouldn’t want to be the leader of the Opposition to be fair because he is leading a party that wants to be in government but does not have the vision to do so. He has therefore resorted to provoking people and escalating rhetoric in the hope that someone reacts,” said Muscat.

He continued by saying that the Labour Party would not be drawn into an early electoral campaign. “He wants me to do the same. Elections decided, not by those who go to mass meetings, but by those who are quietly judging the situation in the country at home,” he said.

The Prime Minister also underscored the “irresponsibility” shown by Nationalist MP David Thake, as well as the Nationalist Party for allowing Thake “to go on-air and make allegations about Chris Fearne’s personal life based on something he had heard.” Earlier in the week, Thake initially alleged that the health minister Chris Fearne was having an extra marital affair. He then claimed that he was only asking “for a clarification” when he suggested that the relationship between Fearne and FMS CEO Carmen Ciantar was more than just work.

Muscat warned, that this type of behaviour would result in less young people being interested in a career in politics and that the country will be the biggest loser, in the long run. 

 

Busuttil living a different reality

The Prime Minister also accused the leader of the opposition of living a different “reality” to the rest of the country, adding that it was the only conclusion one can draw from his claims that it is not true that unemployment is down.

He pointed out that the statistics Busuttil is casting doubt on, come from the NSO and in many cases Eurostat. “They are checked by the European Union and in many cases, can also be felt by people.”

Muscat rubbished that unemployment was only down because of the high number of people being recruited by the government in the public sector. “94 people were engaged by the government, yet unemployment went down by 1700,” he said.

He said that on issues such as the bills and employment, the Opposition could not tell people that things were different to what they were actually seeing and feeling.

“I am yet to understand the reality he is living in,” he said, adding that while debating and disagreeing on policy direction was understandable, saying that things are not true when people can clearly see that they are is not constructive.

“If anything, he is doing us a favour because people can see he is not living in the same reality.”