‘No investigation into Gozo public sector workers’ – Abela
Calls to look into abusive practices are attack on workers, Prime Minister says
Prime Minister Robert has insisted that no investigations will take place into potential abusive behaviour by public sector workers in Gozo.
Speaking at a Labour Party event at the recently inaugurated Gozo Aquatic Complex in Victoria on Sunday morning, Abela referred to a parliamentary question by Nationalist Party MP Graziella Attard Previ in September.
The MP asked whether he had requested the Auditor General to investigate Gozitan government employees who leave their public jobs at 10 am.
Abela replied by accusing the PN of attacking public sector workers, and resumed this criticism of the Opposition on Sunday.
“When I saw the parliamentary question they asked me about the Gozitan workers, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I replied and told them to forget it,” he said.
“Let me make this clear: to persecute and trample over Gozitan workers, first you’ll have to get through us - know that we’ll stand firm against you with all our strength.
The Prime Minister accused MP Karol Aquilina - who was appointed shadow minister for public administration and efficiency by PN leader Alex Borg as part of his reshuffle of the shadow cabinet - of being an inquisitor.
“We know how Karol understands things, as the so-called paladin of governance: investigate the workers and drag them to court.”
Abela also referred to a legal amendment tabled earlier this year intended to protect public officers who are sued for actions they take in the course of their work. After initially opposing the bill, the PN expressed its support after it said the government had later changed tack.
In July, an audit of the Gozo ministry found shortcomings in the way “habitual” claims for overtime were administered and approved.
In one case, the auditor general found a worker performed two hours of overtime on Sunday and public holidays and was paid the minimum for a day’s work on each occasion.
Call for tender for new Victoria green space
During his speech, the Prime Minister listed several projects in Gozo that were finished or near completion.
A tender for a project that will turn a parking lot on Great Siege Square in Victoria into a green space will be launched on Sunday, he said, adding that it would “transform the face” of Gozo’s capital.
As part of the project, first announced in April, the car park will be moved underground.
Meanwhile, Abela said the first phase of the controversial widening of the road between Victoria and Marsalforn would be complete later this month. Separately, work will also begin on the road between Nadur and Qala.
The Prime Minister also referred to the planting of 900 trees and shrubs on Għammar Hill near Ta' Pinu church, as well as the conversion of the Qortin landfill into a family park.
"While the government is investing in such major projects, the PN leader wants to build towers on Gozo and turn it into an Ibiza-style tourist model - meaning that he wants 14 million tourists to come to Gozo. In contrast, the government’s model for Gozo is that of a village-style island that preserves its unique characteristics and sustainability,” he said, referring to a recent controversial interview given by Borg.
‘Labour the only guarantor of hobbies and traditions’
The Prime Minister also slammed the PN for its proposed amendment to give the environment constitutional protection.
“Even the Opposition knew that what it had proposed was a dangerous law - so much so that it had been sitting on it for two and a half years without moving it forward in parliament.”
The Labour Party, he said, was the only guarantor of traditions and hobbies such as hunting and trapping, sports, feasts, and fireworks. He aded that not only wpuld the government protect them, but continue to invest in them to strengthen them.
“If PN had the majority in parliament, with one stroke of a pen they would destroy and threaten the hobbies of thousands of Maltese and Gozitans.”