Two years of Labour government has revealed extreme hypocrisy – Simon Busuttil

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil speaks of the government’s hypocrisy in preaching transparency and meritocracy prior to the last general elections.

PN leader Simon Busuttil
PN leader Simon Busuttil

At a political activity in Siggiewi earlier today, opposition leader Simon Busuttil said that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s government had been characterized by two years of hypocrisy.

“The government says one thing but  really means another. The government was elected with a rallying cry for accountability, transparency and meritocracy,” Busuttil said referring to the way the government had not kept its promise in any of these aspects.

“The government had not been transparent in its dealings with Azeri company SOCAR, and it had organized unaccompanied visits to the country, while continuing to defend the decision even now,” Busuttil said.

Referring to Muscat’s reluctance to runlocal council elections, Busuttil said that the highest form of democracy was considered a waste of money to this government but that PN wanted these elections despite the fact that the labour party had a clear advantage in terms of local councils.

Busuttil said that Muscat often tried to distract from the real issues at stake by revealing unfounded scandals just ahead of elections, as he had done ahead of the general elections.

Referring to the allegations of public funds being used for private projects by former minister Giovanna Debono’s husband, Busuttil condemned the act, but insisted that PN would be waiting for police investigations to conclude before taking action.

Busuttil reminded the public that further revelations had shown that works using public funds were still going on under the current labour government.

“If Muscat wants me to take action against Giovanna Debono, what action should he take against Anton Refalo who is still a minister now?” Busuttil asked to the sound of enthusiastic cheering.

Busuttil encouraged voters not to let Joseph Muscat insult their intelligence and lie to them in this way.  

“The government has also allowed the concept of meritocracy to fly out the window,” Busuttil said referring to the number of cases where individuals close to the government had been granted considerable promotions and payrolls whether they were qualified or not.

He also reminded spectators of the eleven contracts revealed by PN showing that the government had given substantial amounts of land to Enemalta, a company which ahd now been bought by foreigners.

“This government is discriminating against Maltese businesses by offering different rates of land to this company than it does to private owned Maltese entities,” Busuttil said referring to contracts revealing that a piece of land was being offered at lower prices to Enemalta for its proposed PV panel project.

Thanking the Siggiewi local council, Busuttil listed its achievements throughout these two years. According to Busuttil, its achievements include 2,500m of new pavements, the repaving of the salid tal-gholja and the creation of an outdoor gym which includes 300m of jogging tracks, as well as the creation of a much needed civic centre.

He added that should it be re-elected, a PN council would ensure the creation of a night centre for the elderly to complement the Day centre that was currently underway.

Busuttil stressed that the Siggiewi council had managed to ensure projects through effective dialogue.

He compared the lack of debts in Siggiewi to Haz Zebbug where the debts had come up to €1,300,000 despite the clear lack of tangible developments and projects over the two years.

Busuttil also referred to the PL majority Qormi local council, which had also seen only 200m of pavement and no massive infrastructural projects during these years.

“The anti-flooding project is the only thing underway, but even that had been planned by PN,” Busuttil said adding that PN councillors had many plans for the various localities around the island.

Roberta Metsola shadow minister for Foreign Affairs called Siggiewi “one of the oldest Nationalist strongholds,” and after praising the locality encouraged the government to continue inaugurating projects funded and started by PN.

“You give proof to our claims that PN works to bring great benefits for the people,” she said adding that these projects showed that PN was always on the right side of history in spite of the hurdles created by PL.

Shadow energy minister Marthese Portelli and deputy leader of the opposition Beppe Fenech Adami were also present at the event, and they sang the praises of PN led councils over the last two years.

“We are here to tell you that we want to learn from our mistakes and that we are open to your discussions, criticism and complaints,” Fenech Adami said stressing how much the nationalist party valued the cry of the people.