Metro system will cost €2.3bn - Simon Busuttil
The metro system proposed by the Nationalist Party will cost €2.3 billion, PN Leader Simon Busuttil announced yesterday.
Replying to questions at the end of a press conference in Vittoriosa, Dr Busuttil the proposal had been studied and costed. “We’ve been working on it for more than a year, we have studied to costs, worked out the phases, and plan to have some of it ready within the first legislature.”
He maintained that his government would still remain open minded to different proposals for the project. “The traffic in Malta is a cancer factory. We need to think long term and short term, this is why we are making school transport free for everyone, hopefully it will reduce rush hour traffic in the morning.”
The re-nationalisation of the Gozo General Hospital has featured heavily throughout the PN’s campaign, however the manifesto failed to mention any substantial monetary investment. Asked about this by The Malta Independent, Dr Busuttil insisted that the government is still paying Vitals Global Healthcare €70 million euro per year according to the current agreement .
“Don’t think they are doing anyone any favours. The hospital has to remain public as a matter of principle. The three people running the Labour Party are not socialists. Can you imagine a socialist privatising the last public hospital in Gozo?”
He maintained that the PN’s track record would assure people that investment into the hospital would substantially increase. “Look at Mater Dei, even ex PL Leader Alfred Sant said that it was state of the art.”
The PN Leader was also asked as to how he planned to reduce electricity bills and by how much.
He said that the manifesto states that his administration would always seek the cheapest electricity possible, and insisted that solar energy incentives would also reduce bills.
Dr Busuttil began the press conference by saying when he took over the ‘responsibility and privilege’ of becoming the party leader, he recognised that the PN had lost touch with the people. It was his goal, he said, to ensure that the Nationalist Party became the party of the people once again.
“To raise the standards of good governance we recognised that the movement had to be bigger than any party or man.”
He highlighted ten proposals within the main general manifesto published on Wednesday. The PN had already unveiled separate manifestos for Gozo and young people.
These are: to clean up the political system once and for all and re-establish the country’s international reputation; the creation of 30,000 high quality jobs in new economic sectors; 10% tax for self-employed and small businesses; the environment becoming enshrined in the constitution; the protection of Zonqor, valleys like Wied Ghomor, and the conversion of White Rocks into a national eco-park; the metro system; the immediate 5c/ltr reduction of the price of fuel, and a pledge to remain beneath the EU average throughout the legislature; free childcare for everyone; free medicines and a substantial increase in pensions.
Marlene Farrugia
PD Leader Marlene Farrugia said that the population was betrayed by Joseph Muscat’s promises of good governance, transparency and meritocracy.
“We had people who were committed to achieving this progression in politics, but there were a few who had different intentions.
“Forza Nazzjonali will create a government that reflects the country, of the people who vote as Maltese first. We want to convert the fantastic energy of Maltese society to work together and compete internationally.”