Labour 'partnership' to tackle environment problems

The "pittance" which Government had obtained in its negotiations with the European Union would not solve the country's problems. Besides, nobody knew what funding was in store once the first three years of membership were up, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant claimed yesterday.

Dr Sant was speaking at Labour Party headquarters in Hamrun where he tackled the infrastructure, capital projects and drainage.

After this press conference, Dr Sant addressed party supporters who gathered under a tent in Gavino Gulia Square, Cospicua.

When asked how he planned to finance the projects with Labour's policy of partnership, Dr Sant said a Labour government would clamp down on the money squandered by the present administration.

"We also estimate that we will be reducing government spending by Lm20 million a year which we can use to implement our projects," he said.

This figure of Lm20 million, he said, was the amount the government was spending to prepare to join the EU.

Dr Sant said the government was so obsessed with joining the EU that the country's infrastructure was now overrun with unkept promises.

A Labour government would tackle environment problems by establishing a partnership with the private sector and international organisations.

Attacking the government for the delay in the work on the Burmarrad and Salini roads, Dr Sant said the MLP would set up co-ordinating units to ensure that public works continued at the same pace.

Dr Sant also said that it was shameful to see projects such as the yacht marina and the golf course in Gozo put on hold because of the government's obsession with EU membership.

When he was addressing supporters in Cospicua Dr Sant said the Labour Party would create new jobs in the area and also strive to make the schools in the locality the best on the island.

EU Budget Commissioner Michele Schreyer said last week that she believed Malta would remain a net beneficiary in the next EU budget covering 2007 to 2013.