Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday insisted that his government would be open to every suggestion for the selection of a site in Gozo on which to build a golf course.
Speaking during a Broadcasting Authority televised press conference, Sant said that a golf course in Gozo would be built on two conditions: it would be a standalone development and it would be sensitive to the environment.
He was asked by this newspaper to justify his criticism of a permit for the development of a discotheque in Mistra valley on the basis that it would ruin a site of high ecological importance when his party has long championed the building of a golf course at Ta’ Cenc in Gozo, an equally ecologically sensitive area.
“Ta’ Cenc is already partially developed, there is a hotel and there are also some villas. Mind you Ta’ Cenc had been identified by MEPA and not the Labour Party. But we would be studying the best site for the placement of a golf course on two conditions: the project would have to be standalone without apartments and built with respect to the environment.
“They tell me that Qortin, the site of the former waste dump, could be a potential site for a standalone golf course. When they say Qortin is a small site they are saying so because they have in mind a golf course and luxury apartments.
“We are flexible on the issue and a golf course would be built with respect to the environment and Gozo’s need for economic progress,” Sant said, shifting focus from the highly controversial Ta’ Cenc site.
During the press conference Sant insisted he did not want to face Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando over the allegations of corruption. “I will not debate with someone who has lost respect. I do not respect somebody who is a proven conman of our country’s heritage, more so someone who poses as an environmental activist. Pullicino Orlando can speak to my lawyers in court,” the Labour leader said.
Yesterday’s press conference was the second take after the first attempt on Monday had to be aborted after Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando appeared with press card in hand posing as a journalist for media.link, a move which the MLP objected to.
The Labour leader once again alleged corruption in the case insisting that something was wrong when MEPA for years had refused the construction of a reservoir on the ecologically sensitive site but than gave the go-ahead for an outline development permit for a discotheque to cater for 4,000 people.
Sant, however, refused to divulge the information or reports that he possibly has which supposedly prove corruption insisting that he had to protect the person who gave him the information since there was no Whistleblower Act in place.
Asked about the monies owed to government entities such as the VAT department by commercial companies that belong to the political parties, Sant said it was unfair to expect only these companies to expose their books.
“Many companies have problems related to outstanding payments with government entities because of the economic situation. But it would be unfair to expose the books of companies. Just imagine what the banks or creditors would do. I agree that political parties should be more transparent but we need to start gradually. The first thing we need to deal with is the financing of political parties and here we would go ahead and implement the recommendations of the Galdes Commission. We eventually have to go towards a situation of increased transparency even in the political parties’ commercial companies,” Sant said.
On the Sant’ Antnin recycling plant in Marsaskala Sant said the plant would not be demolished. “We need three regional recycling plants to treat waste. As regards the Sant’ Antnin plant the building is there and we will be making sure that it will be operated as a regional plant and thus not treating all of Malta’s waste. We will also make sure that the community would get some form of compensation for having this inconvenience in their locality,” Sant said.
Asked whether a Labour government would retract the extended development boundaries approved in 2006, Sant ruled out the possibility even though his party was highly critical at the time.
“Once a parliamentary majority decided to extend the development zones it would create economic instability if we were to reverse that decision. It will create instability at a capillary level and so we will not be reversing that decision. But this does not mean we will not investigate particular cases of abuse or corruption,” Sant replied.

ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt