Busuttil appeals to Godfrey Farrugia to join coalition

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday appealed to Godfrey Farrugia, who has resigned as PL whip and said he will not contest with Labour, to join the PN/PD coalition and contest under his wife Marlene Farrugia’s newly formed party Partit Demokratiku.

“We would not expect you to turn back on your ideals and contest with the PN. We understand you are a genuine Labour Party supporter who is hurt by the current situation. I appeal for you to contest the election with PD and join the coalition against corruption.”

Addressing a political activity in Xaghra, he also pledged €10,000 as a financial incentive for every young couple who are starting a family and settling in Gozo, or a couple/family returning to Gozo.

The financial pledge for young couples shows the PN’s commitment to incentivise Gozitan families to live, work and settle in Gozo, he said.

“The PN will commit itself to declare Gozo as a dedicated region, through an amendment in the law. This will launch a process to great a regional committee which would oversee everything for Gozo, separate from the Gozo Ministry.

“This will be done through EU funding, and the financial package we can negotiate for Gozo could reach €250 million.”

He was speaking about the dedicated electoral manifesto the PN is in the final stages of producing for Gozo. He explained that a Gozo Ministry would be strengthened and not removed with the introduction of a regional committee, but it would be under the watchful eye of the committee.

Speaking about the Public-PrivatePartnership contract negotiated between the government and VGH which would see the privatisation of the Gozo General Hospital and Karen Grech Hospital in Malta, Dr Busuttil said: “I do not agree with privatising the only public hospital in Gozo. If there was more than one hospital in Gozo I would accept this, but not when Gozo only has one hospital to serve the needs of this people.”

Asked about a more permanent link between Malta and Gozo, Dr Busuttil said that if the geological studies recommend that a tunnel is feasible, the PN would embark on the “national project”.

Dr Busuttil pledged a fast-ferry service between Malta and Gozo in the next legislature, and reinstating the merchant maritime transport, “which Dr Muscat had removed”, which has reportedly hurt much business in Gozo.