Politics
Muscat speaks out on government consultation
by di-ve.com - editorial@di-ve.comPolitics -- Sunday, February 01, 2009 -- 14:55CEST
Government was making a mockery out of consultation where projects of a national importance were concerned, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said on Sunday.
Speaking at the end of the PL general conference, Dr Muscat said that Labour was in favour of several projects proposed by government – in theory.
However, he said that these plans were often wrong-headed on paper, and that government’s idea of a consultation – which he deemed a farce at one point – was stifling valuable suggestions from the public.
The Labour leader referred to the St John’s Co-Cathedral museum extension project, on which he had tabled a motion calling for government to revoke its support.
He agreed that the co-cathedral needed additional space to display its treasures, but argued that spending €16 million to “dig a quarry” in the heart of Valletta was hardly the best idea, particularly since a lot more could be done with such funds.
Although the Co-Cathedral Foundation was strongly supporting the project, Dr Muscat noted that the project was opposed even by the Maltese church’s heritage commission. He wondered aloud who this project was being built for, since the public, the opposition and even the church had come out against it.
Labour also welcomed the City Gate project, but Dr Muscat again complained on the lack of consultation. He said that while the Prime Minister hinted that plans for the Opera House to become the new House of Representatives were not yet finalised, government had asked architect Renzo Piano to provide his plans.
He added that he did not personally believe that a parliament was the best choice for the site, noting that through a proper consultation, alternative ideas would be obtained from the public.
Dr Muscat also criticised Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt and his handling of the controversial Ghadira road project. He reminded that Dr Gatt had said that a decision needed to be taken by end of January to ensure that EU funds would not be lost, but now that February has begun people were not being informed of any developments.
However, he said that these plans were often wrong-headed on paper, and that government’s idea of a consultation – which he deemed a farce at one point – was stifling valuable suggestions from the public.
The Labour leader referred to the St John’s Co-Cathedral museum extension project, on which he had tabled a motion calling for government to revoke its support.
He agreed that the co-cathedral needed additional space to display its treasures, but argued that spending €16 million to “dig a quarry” in the heart of Valletta was hardly the best idea, particularly since a lot more could be done with such funds.
Although the Co-Cathedral Foundation was strongly supporting the project, Dr Muscat noted that the project was opposed even by the Maltese church’s heritage commission. He wondered aloud who this project was being built for, since the public, the opposition and even the church had come out against it.
Labour also welcomed the City Gate project, but Dr Muscat again complained on the lack of consultation. He said that while the Prime Minister hinted that plans for the Opera House to become the new House of Representatives were not yet finalised, government had asked architect Renzo Piano to provide his plans.
He added that he did not personally believe that a parliament was the best choice for the site, noting that through a proper consultation, alternative ideas would be obtained from the public.
Dr Muscat also criticised Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt and his handling of the controversial Ghadira road project. He reminded that Dr Gatt had said that a decision needed to be taken by end of January to ensure that EU funds would not be lost, but now that February has begun people were not being informed of any developments.
