Government plans to revise Valletta CVA system

Proposals for the revision of the Controlled Vehicular Access (CVA) system in Valletta are expected to be included in Budget 2014, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced at a public consultation meeting this evening.

Muscat said his government was in the process of revising the CVA system as the current system was not viable for both Transport Malta and shop owners in the capital city.

"It doesn't make sense that Transport Malta is incurring more costs out of the system and therefore we are looking at several options, including whether it would be better to scrap the whole system," the Prime Minister said.

Muscat said that among the options being considered, it was being debated whether it would be wiser to "to scrap the whole system" and go back to the old system, or whether it would be a better option to reduce the hours during which the system was operative.

On oil exploration, Muscat said the government was open to the "good will which exists in the Mediterranean".

He said that by next February, oil exploration will start in non-contested areas, but this was not something the government "wanted to hype".

Budget 2014, Muscat announced, will provide for students to be paid stipend at pro rata, according to the cost of living adjustment.

Muscat was addressing the last of a series of public consultation meetings organised by the Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting brought to an end the 'government that listens' campaign during which a total of 14 meetings with ministers and parliamentary secretaries were held.

This evening's meeting was held in the courtyard at Auberge de Castille and the set up reflected the polished campaign that the public had grown accustomed to expect from Labour during this year's electoral campaign.

He fielded 30 questions from the general public on various issues, including the marriage concordat, the La Valette Property Fund, the hawkers' market, the public transport reform, animal welfare and pushbacks of irregular migrants.

At one point, Muscat was asked by a young man "when and how" the Labour government would implement the pushback policy. Muscat had declared himself in favour of the policy if Libya were to be declared a safe country of origin.

The Prime Minister however failed to address the question, instead affirming the government's position "against racism".

"As long as an individual enters this country regularly, pays his taxes and is an honest citizen then there should be no distinction between one citizen and another," he said.

"Our objection is that illegal immigration is taken as a state of fact, and Malta wants to send a clear message of its position," he said, referring to Malta's abstention on the EU vote on the common European asylum system.

Muscat then went on to recall his government's commitment to introduce rights for minorities.

As he answered the questions, Muscat turned to his audience and said he was there to "serve" them.

"I was not elected to give orders but to shoulder responsibility for the administration of the country and to take decisions. However, I have no problem in clearly speaking my mind," he said.

In a bid to convince the public that he was truly different from his predecessor, Muscat said he was the man who took decisions.

He went on to announce that the first reading of the Whistleblower's Act will be presented in parliament next week and is expected to come into force by end July.

During the interventions, Muscat was lauded for having set up a foundation to coordinate the national festivities, and for having included individuals "with different political beliefs". Muscat's decision to appoint TV host Lou Bondi to the foundation had sparked much criticism and heated arguments on social network sites.

Muscat announced that a business delegation would be traveling to South Africa later on this year as government planned to launch different programmes to enhance economic cooperation with countries outside the European Union.

He once again defended government's decision to allow China Communications Construction Company, blacklisted by the World Bank, to carry out a feasibility study on a Gozo bridge.

"Contrary to public perception, China is not a country whose people all look the same, but in fact, it is one of the top three economic houses of the world. The fact they are taking interest in this rock is a positive sign," Muscat said.

He also announced plans to visit Israel, "a country with huge potential for commercial ties," by the end of this year.

He also defended the government's decision to allocate the hawkers' market a central place in Valletta: "Business brings about business and like all other businesses, hawkers have their dignity which should be respected. We need to inject a mentality where shops and hawkers stop fighting with each other.

"However, we also insist that stalls should not remain as they are: they are a pigsty."

He went on to add that markets should be more varied and include themed open markets in Valletta.