Joseph Muscat warns government about power station extension contract
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat yesterday warned government the controversy surrounding a €200 million contract for the extension of the Delimara power station was “not over.”
Speaking during a press conference at the PL headquarters in Hamrun, Muscat spoke about sister newspaper Illum’s revelations that the multi-million contract for Delimara’s fuel oil turbine had been signed last week, amid protest from other bidders for the contract.
“It is interesting to ask why government signed the contract in total secrecy,” he said, adding that the choice for contracting an “old and highly polluting technology” had been imposed upon the Maltese when no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was commissioned.
He added that government has not yet explained what will be done about the 40 to 60 tonnes of toxic waste that the ‘new’ plant will produce.
“I warn government that for us this issue is not over, and we will be pursuing all the facts,” he said.
Muscat said Labour will be insisting for answers from who decided to overturn all political and strategic recommendations that previously had mapped a future of electricity generation by gas rather than Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).
Joseph Muscat reiterated a statement by Professor Edward Mallia from the Department of Physics at the University of Malta, who told MaltaToday a week ago that “government cannot be trusted any longer” on the environment after the power station extension controversy.
Flanked by the 12 candidates that will contest next Saturday’s European Parliament elections, Joseph Muscat hit out at Austin Gatt’s public admission that the increases in the water and electricity rates should have been introduced in January rather than October.
Here, the Labour leader criticised Austin Gatt for being hypocritical in his statements, when it was himself and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who shunned an Opposition motion in Parliament about the utility tariffs earlier this year. “Austin Gatt has admitted and proved our calculations right,” he said.
About healthcare and illegal immigration, Joseph Muscat denied the notion that the PL was playing “political football” on these two issues, insisting that contrary to what some might think, “politicians are there to speak and take action on issues that concern people.”
“The Labour party is no fan club, but a political party with serious politicians who are concerned with people’s issues and who are stating alternative policies to the government’s.”
While giving an extensive overview of the work done by Labour MEPs during the last five years, Joseph Muscat stressed that next Saturday’s vote must consolidate the responsibility they had been entrusted with.
He shunned the PN’s accusations that the PL is diverting from European issues and focusing this electoral campaign on national issues. “What happens in Malta concerns Europe and what happens in Europe concerns Malta,” Muscat said, while insisting that issues such as cost of living, illegal immigration, corruption, VAT on car registration, government’s arrogance, utility tariffs and many other issues were intrinsically connected to Europe.
“We are Maltese and citizens of Europe, and this is why we talk about these issues, because we have to compare our rights with others. We are not second class to anyone,” he stressed.
Joseph Muscat once again appealed to the electorate to vote in next Saturday’s elections, explaining that it was necessary that all must send a clear message to the Prime Minister that he cannot be trusted any longer and that it is about time that the country was given an opportunity to aspire for a new dawn.
“We are a brand new coalition of middle-class, students, workers, pensioners – all sectors are united,” Joseph Muscat said.
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