Labour recycles unfulfilled promises, PN claims
PN candidates provide a list of PL's unfulfilled promises
A new Gozo hospital, a pedestrianised Floriana’s main street, and a new mental health hospital are among the promises the Labour Party has failed to fulfil over the past 13 years, the Nationalist Party said on Friday.
In a press conference held by Michael Piccinino, Beppe Galea, and David Bonello, the three PN candidates mentioned several proposals the Labour Party has proposed and failed to make a reality during the past three elections.
The press conference took place hours before Prime Minister Robert Abela will present PL's manifesto.
The list of pledges included converting Floriana’s St Anne Street into a public garden, a promised new mental hospital next to Mater Dei and a new 430-bed hospital in Gozo.
Piccinino highlighted how several of PL’s proposals have been recycled throughout the years and how the proposals are only mentioned once an election is underway.
On his end, the PN’s previous secretary general said the PL promised a brand new state-of-the-art Institute of Tourism Studies campus at Smart City, after ITS moved to its “temporary” campus in Luqa.
Eight years later, the Smart City campus is still not built, Piccinino said.
He said that after four different health ministers, Malta is yet to have a mental health hospital; instead, the PL is now promising a mental health ward in Mater Dei Hospital.
In 2017, the Labour Party’s manifesto promised to give priority to the infrastructural development of all roads in the country.
“Millions were spent on our roads, and not only was traffic not eliminated, but it got worse,” he continued.
He also highlighted the promised €6.2 billion underground metro proposal, which dates to 2021 and has now been replaced with another mass transport promise by the PL.
Beppe Galea highlighted how unfulfilled promises in Gozo end up being a burden on Gozitan families. Apart from the failed promise of a new hospital in Gozo, he also mentioned the promised Marsalforn breakwater, an innovation hub for start-ups, and the promise that Gozo will become the first part of the country to be climate neutral.
He said the PL also pledged to restore the Qbajjar battery, part of which collapsed earlier this year. He also said the PL promised an extension of the MCAST campus in Gozo and to build a new court building.
PN candidate David Bonello added that the PL failed to deliver its promise of roofing the Santa Venera tunnels, so much so that no studies have been carried out.
The plans were announced years ago by then Environment Minister José Herrera, and provided for a garden on the new roof.
He also mentioned the promises to pedestrianise Floriana's St Anne Street to create new green spaces. Instead, he said, the road faces heavier traffic congestion.