Updated | Busuttil says Labour’s energy plan is prioritising politics over health

PN Leader Simon Busuttil has accused the government and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of prioritising money and politics over the health of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents.

Addressing the party faithful at the Qormi PN club, the leader of the opposition lambasted the government's "steamrolling and insistence" to opt for a floating LNG terminal anchored to the Marsaxlokk harbour.

"In deciding to go ahead with its plan for a gas terminal anchored to jetty in the harbour, the government is only taking into account money and its politics," Busuttil said while reminding the vociferous crowd that Konrad Mizzi had promised to resign if the government did not implement its energy plan in 22 months.

The floating LNG terminal will see a 215MW gas plant and liquefied natural gas storage terminal built by the Electrogas consortium at Delimara. National energy corporation Enemalta has discarded the option to locate the gas terminal away from the Delimara site, and instead use an LNG vessel anchored to a jetty. The floating terminal will be anchored permanently to the jetty, as proposed by Electrogas consortium.

The proposed shift from heavy fuel oil to gas one of Labour's most prominent electoral battle cries, and its main sponsor, Konrad Mizzi had pledged that it would be finished within 22 months.

"This is the real reason why the government is steamrolling over everyone and ignoring the health of Marsaxlokk residents," the PN leader said while referring to Labour's 22-month plan.

Moreover, Busuttil accused the "amateurish and irresponsible" government of hypocrisy because it was the first to accuse the then-PN government of ignoring the people's health by manufacturing a "cancer factory", but eleven months into the legislature it is doing the same.

"During the run up to the March election, Joseph Muscat had dubbed the power station as a cancer factory and said  that the majority of Marsaxlokk residents had also voiced their disdain at the power station. However, it seems that the prime minister's priorities have now changed because eleven months into its legislature, the government is not listening to the residents, even though the majority are against the floating LNG terminal."

A social impact study of the Delimara gas plant conducted by sociologist Marvin Formosa found that residents would prefer to see gas storage and regasification terminal located offshore Marsaxlokk. The most disliked option was that of Labour's original energy plan, that of storing gas in gigantic tanks located on land.

The original plan was however derided by the residents in seaside Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia. On its part, the Nationalist Party had claimed that the land-based tanks would pose a "potential safety hazard for residents." In response of the criticism levelled against its plan, the government had discraded it, citing "health and safety" issues.

Meanwhile, in the wake of 110 employees Arrow Pharm employees and the government's subsequent pledge to find the workers an alternative job, Simon Busuttil said the government is only ready to offer the affected workers precarious employment.

"Prior to the election the government announced that it would stop precarious employment, but now it is offering Arrow Pharm employees a job with a month-by-month contract and with a paltry €700 wage. Is this the government's promise?" the PN leader agued.

Earlier this month, Arrow Pharm, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical company Actavis, announced that 110 workers are at risk of redundancy as part of its restructuring process. Economy Minister Chris Cardona subsequently said that the government had failed in preventing the sacking but nevertheless, said the government is committed to find the workers an alternative job.

However, referring to a worker's text message, PN leader Simon Busuttil said the government is only offering these affected workers precarious employment.

Moreover, on the issue of work, the PN leader reiterated his call to the government to implement " a concrete roadmap" to increase work and also criticised the government for increasing work within the civil sector. 

"In an effort to reduce taxes, previous PN government had reduced the jobs in the civil service. However, the government has since increased these jobs by a staggering 1,100 to satisfy the party's inner circles."

"This is only because under a Labour government, all of its affiliates are getting a piece of the state's coffers, but on the other side of the coin, the people are getting the short end of the stick because unemployment is increasing and the government is doing nothing to offset the worrying statistics," Busuttil argued.

Turning his attention on the impeachment motion of Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco, Simon Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of manifesting excuses not to remove Farrugia Sacco from his post.

Last month, the Commission for the Administration of Justice, proved an impeachment motion filed by former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi against Farrugia Sacco. The judiciary watchdog subsequently found the judge guilty of misbehaviour when he retained his post as president of the Malta Olympic Committee.

However, a ruling by the Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia said ruled the impeachment motion "dead" because Lawrence Gonzi - who is no longer a member of parliament - broke the link between the motion and the MP who presented it.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had subsequently said that the judiciary watchdog will start afresh with a new investigation in Farrugia Sacco's misbehaviour.

However, the CAJ said it already made the investigation and its conclusion would remain the same.

"Then-leader of the opposition Joseph Muscat had said in parliament that he would   continue the impeachment motion of Lino Farrugia Sacco. In the past weeks however, Muscat has come up with numerous excuses not to oust Farrugia Sacco from his post."

"Is this the way the prime minister is going to convince the justice reform, when in the most crucial point of Farrugia Sacco's impeachment motion, you are conveying the message that justice is not important and it is only applied to the inner circles," Busuttil argued.

Government rebuts allegations, says Arrow Pharm workers would not abandoned

In a reaction to Busuttil's comments, Economy Minister Chris Cardona has condemned the PN leader for trying to gain a "political advantage from the Arrow Pharm situation."

"This is the same government who for several years overlooked precarious employment. The uncertainty surrounding Arrow Pharm employees is ultimately down to the incompetence of the previous Nationalist government," Cardona said.

Moreover, the economy minister insisted that the affected workers would not be abandoned and in fact, a task force within the ministry is tasked with addressing the issues surrounding the workers.

The minister also said that Playmobil, Methode, Trelleborg, Sigfried, SKAT Ltd and Foster Clark have offered to take in the affected workers.