Grech blames government for Malta being left off UK’s green list

Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has said that Malta’s inability to make it to the UK’s green list of safe travel destinations is due to the government’s inaction on making the right decisions earlier in the year.

PN Leader Grech was being interviewed by Robert Cremona on NET TV on Sunday morning. He was asked about the tourism sector, saying that the Nationalist party is ‘disappointed’ with the decision as it understands how important it is for tourists to travel to Malta.

He blamed the government, saying that the UK left Malta out of its quarantine free-travel list because of wrong decisions which were taken months ago.

On Thursday it was reported that Malta was not added to the UK’s travel green list.

Grech said that “had the government taken decisions and listened to our pleas, we would have reduced the Covid-19 numbers at an earlier stage, thus we would have had the possibility to promote Malta as a safe destination.”

He urged the authorities to ensure that proper screening at arrival destinations in Malta continues properly.

Survey Results: Nationalist Party needs to make certain changes

Malta Today on Sunday published a survey showing that 45.7% out of 650 respondents would vote Labour if a general election were to be held tomorrow as opposed to 29.3% who said they would vote for PN.

Grech reacted saying that the survey shows that the Nationalist party needs to make certain changes, but one cannot help but look at the survey in the context in which it is based.

The survey shows that the PN is growing but the party needs to work more on strengthening the element of convincing the public to place their trust in the Nationalist party, Grech said.

He added that “my promise is to continue working hard to make this party better and stronger.”

Speaking about the situation concerning the “unjust way in which electricity and water bills are being formulated”, Grech highlighted that the promise posited by the Nationalist party is crystal clear.

He also said that the party is committed to analysing the way utility bills are being formulated and ensure that this is being done right.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela was called in for police questioning over allegations made by Alfred Degiorgio, one of the suspects in the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Since then, Grech said that “we have clearly seen how weak Prime Minister Robert Abela is. His inactions regarding this matter have clearly shown how disinterested he is in this country as he chooses to leave a person who is currently in a bad light by his side.”

Mental health remains a priority for PN

Speaking about mental health, Grech said that this is affecting many people, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He mentioned how people such as students studying at a post-secondary and tertiary level have spent more than a year behind a screen without any physical interaction with their peers or lecturers.

This also applies to the elderly since they have been locked up inside for months, especially those who reside in care homes.

Grech also said that the Mount Carmel Hospital in Attard can no longer operate as it is and must be closed down. He promised that the Nationalist party would open a new mental hospital that operates with the best services and structure.

Meanwhile, speaking about the environment, Grech made reference to the recent pledge made by the Nationalist party to buy the area around Ħondoq ir-Rummien back from its private landowners and turn it into a national park if it is elected to government.

Despite the criticism put forth by Prime Minister Robert Abela on Sunday morning regarding the proposal, Grech stated that “we know what we want, and we know what we can do. On the other hand, Robert Abela doesn’t, and I hope he will one day realise that this is the best step we can take for Ħondoq ir-Rummien.”

Grech also remarked that when the government is not the one leading the plan or proposal, it tends to always oppose.

“I sometimes believe that the government is becoming an opposition to the opposition itself because everything the Nationalist party has proposed, the government has opposed,” Grech said.