PN candidate accuses government of steamrolling over residents’ interests

MEP hopeful Therese Comodini Cachia has accused the government of "steamrolling" over the Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents and insisted that the proposed LNG terminal is detrimental to the people's safety, their health and the livelihood of local fishermen.

The floating LNG terminal will see a 215MW gas plant and liquefied natural gas storage terminal anchored outside Marsaxlokk bay.

The government had initially proposed to store gas in gigantic tanks located on land but after heavy derision by local residents, lobbyists and the Nationalist Party, it opted to use a liquefied gas storage vessel anchored to a jetty outside the Marsaxlokk bay.

However, the PN candidate has inisted that 91% are against the governemnt's proposal because due to safety issues and because it hinders the work of the fishermen and the Freeport.

Addressing a news conference on board a fishing vessel, Comodini Cachia also argued that the floating liquefied gas storage would be threaten the visuals of the Freeport and to the bay and that it would hinder economic operations.

Asked whether the existing power station and the extension of the Freeport are a bone of contention for the Marsaxlokk residents, Comodini Cachia argued that the extension of the power station did not affect the view of the Marsaxlokk bay and that they do not hinder the operations of fishermen or pose a threat to safety.

"Notwithstanding the majority of residents voicing their opposition to the project, the government is steamrolling over the residents and insisting on its plan. Is this the government that listens or is it listening to those issues which play on its own tune? " the MEP candidate argued in a dig at the government endorsing itself as a 'government that listens'.

Flanked by a local fisherman, Comodini Cachia accused the government of prioritising its political interests over the residents' safety and of  "ignoring the fishermen's livelihood."

"91% of the residents are calling on the government to anchor the gas storage outside the Marsaxlokk Bay as this would ensure that the visuals of the bay are not touched, their safety is not threatened and that the fishermen's operations would not be hindered.

"Despite endorsing itself as a government that listens, Joseph Muscat and his government is not listening to the majority of the Marsaxlokk residents and insistent on implementing this hazardous project."

Consequently, Comodini Cachia called on the government to conduct  studies on the effects that the LNG terminal would impose on the fishermen and on the freeport.

"It is still unclear whether the LNG terminal would entail the partial closing of the bay while more importantly, refuelling vessels would have to be anchored for days."

"These would put a severe dent in the fishermen's operations and to the neghbouring Freeport - a move which would see hundreds of families get the short end of the stick and one which would hinder economic operations," she said.

Echoing PN Leader Simon Busuttil, the MEP candidate said the government is prioritising its political goals over the residents' health and the livelihood of fishermen.

"Rather than anchor the LNG terminal outside the Marsaxlokk bay, the government should instead anchor it outside the Maltese shores as this would alleviate all concerns," she argued.