PN leader dubs government's appeal against MEPA decision as a media stunt

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil has lambasted the government’s appeal against MEPA’s decision on the Freeport, branding the appeal as a media stunt, and insisting that had the government been truly against the decision, it would have “objected against it in the first place, and not after.”

On Saturday, the government announced that it would be appealing a decision taken by MEPA allowing the Freeport to carry out repair and maintenance of oil rigs for one  year – the first time that the government plans on appealing a decision taken by the MEPA board members which was in favour of the applicant.

Addressing the PN faithful at Paola, Busuttil argued that the government had initially agreed with the decision, because, otherwise, it would have lobbied against the decision prior to the Board announcing its decision.

“If the government was truly against the decision, then Joseph Muscat should have the MEPA board a letter just before the latter was due to take a decision, just as Muscat did MEPA decided on the fate of the LNG terminal,” Busuttil said.

Drawing comparisons with the Environmental and Planning Authority’s decision on the Freeport and the LNG terminal, Busuttill underlined that if the government is “truly interested in the wellbeing of the residents,” it should have protested against the decision to permanently anchor an LNG terminal at Marsaxlokk.

“Is this the same government that has repeatedly pledged to listen to the people and to put their interest on the top of its agenda, or is this the government which blatantly steamrolled over the Birzebbugia and Marsaxlokk residents when  it proposed the LNG terminal,” Busuttil said.

“It is now evident that the government’s objection and subsequent appeal to MEPA’s decision on the Freeport is a pure act of propaganda, and that the government is prioritising propaganda over everything else,” he argued.

Even though the Opposition was not informed of Coleiro Preca’s nomination, and despite the fact that she emanated from the governing party, the Opposition still voted in favour – the first time the Opposition voted in favour of a president being nominated from the governing party Simon Busuttil on Marie Louise Coleiro Preca's appointment as president

The Opposition leader also argued that the electorate had been deceived and betrayed because it was not consulted on numerous issues, instead accusing the government of rampaging with its insistence – a prime example being the Individual Investor Programme, the LNG tanker and the decision to “privatise” Enemalta, Busuttil said.

In the wake of Marie Louise Coleiro Preca being appointed as president, the PN leader insisted that Coleiro Preca’s nomination proceed that the opposition was “mature, responsible, and ready to cooperate.”

While taking exception at the government for presenting the Opposition with a fait accompli on Coleiro Preca and for not following suit to the PN government in nominating a president from the opposition, Busuttil argued that Coleiro Preca’s appointment as president was nevertheless “historical”.

“Even though the Opposition was not informed of Coleiro Preca’s nomination, and despite the fact that she emanated from the governing party, the Opposition still voted in favour – the first time the Opposition voted in favour of a president being nominated from the governing party,” he underlined. 

Busuttil, whose first year in opposition has seen him engage in a tug of war with the government and trade attacks and criticism, insisted that it was not usual for a government to attack the opposition.

“The government is more focused on attacking the opposition rather than govern. Joseph Muscat is doing this to divert the country’s attention from the several shortcomings that have plagued Malta under the Labour government.”

Notwithstanding this criticism, the PN leader argued that these “constant attacks” would only serve to fuel the Opposition’s resolve and would make the PN stronger and more determined than ever before.

In addition, Busuttil announced that the Opposition would on Monday present a motion to revoke a legal notice that gives the education minister the right to have access to pupils’ personal data.

Legal Notice 76 of 2014 is envisaging to give the Education minister and any other education ministry official the power to request private data of all pupils attending state schools in Malta. But Busuttil has taken umbrage at the legal notice.

“[Education minister] Evarist Bartolo tried to silently implement a legal notice that enables him access to all students’ personal data. What gives the minister the divine right to use this personal data?

“The legal notice is obscene and another example of the government as a Big Brother.  The legal notice is a mistake and the PN will not stand by a government acting as a spy,” he said.

Consequently, Busuttil argued, the Opposition would on Monday present a motion to revoke the legal notice.