PL 'throwing mud and blowing smoke' on BSWC contract – PN

Speaking during a political event in Lija, Gatt pointed to the recent statements made by the Auditor General during the last sitting of the Public Accounts Committee earlier this week.

During that sitting, Gatt said that the Auditor General said that the 25 individuals who were involved in the awarding of the Power Station extension contract to BWSC where all cleared of bribery or of trading in influence.

“The PL’s tactic is of undertaking a campaign of lies intended to undermine the government when they are incapable of even pointing fingers at anyone,” Gat said. “How can we tolerate someone who alleges corruption despite clear statements to the contrary?” he asked, referring to the Auditor General’s testimony.

Also speaking during the event, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that the latest PAC session confirmed that the Auditor General found no evidence of corruption. “Yet Labour insists on blowing smoke on the issue when a report was already finished 11 months ago.”

He also said that the report prepared by the Auditor General had been already debated at parliamentary level. Despite this, Gonzi said that the Labour party is “beating a dead horse” in a “ferocious attack on the auditor general.”

He reiterated how “if there is suspicion, these should be passed onto to the auditor for further investigation.”

Gonzi reiterated also how the “Auditor general is a strong respectable institution who, throughout the Delimara investigation, had everything put at his disposal such as documents and witnesses.” Gonzi added that government “even recommended that the auditor general interviews more witnesses but he declined.”

Gonzi recalled the Mintoff administration, saying that the PN “know what it is like to live under a dictatorship,” while “Labour doesn’t know what it is like to live under a dictatorial rule that broke down the country’s institutions.”

He affirmed that the PN recognize the importance of strong and independent institutions like the auditor general, the PAC, parliament, and the Police Commissioner – “these all have their roles to play.”

He affirmed that the governments’ “aim is to keep strengthening these institutions.”

During the event, Gatt also spoke of the new public transport agreement that is set to kick-off in July, signed only the day before with international transportation service provider Arriva.

He affirmed that that reform will mean cleaner, better, and more efficient buses, as well as a better route system. He also affirmed that the reform will mean more jobs, as well as a saving of 35 million in subsidies over 10 years that can go towards much needed social welfare reforms like pensions.

Referring to the concerns raised regarding the way the new fares system will differentiate between residents and non-resident, meaning that tourists will need to pay higher fares, Gatt said he could not understand the reasoning that a non-resident could expect to pay the same as much as resident.

This aside, Gatt said, the costs for non-residents would still be lower than for the same service in other countries around Europe. “If a tourist can’t afford to pay the €12 to use the bus system, he or she should do us a blessed favour and not come here at all,” Gatt affirmed.

Gonzi also reiterated the government’s commitment towards up-keeping the student stipends that are given out university students and sixth form students, describing this as an “investment that will eventually yield millions of euros’ worth in dividends.”

In his conclusion, Gonzi also announced a contract signed with cruise operators MSC which, he said, will mean an increase of 150,000 cruise visitors to Malta each year – each of which is expected to spend €70 locally.

“This means that this agreement will translate into revenue of as much as €10 million annually for the five-year duration of the contract,” Gonzi said.