Alternattiva Demokratika approves manifesto and candidates

Alternattiva Demokratika yesterday approved its electoral manifesto and candidates for the general election.

Addressing the gathering, AD Chairman Arnold Cassola said special parliamentary committees should be responsible for the appointment of people in key positions, scrutinise the top brass in the civil service and all ambassadors.

The party is also proposing that Parliament “re-appropriates” constitutional bodies and national boards and entities from the government.

The country, Prof. Cassola said, could not tolerate a situation where new governments fill state entities with party loyalists and cronies.

AD also approved 10 election candidates.

On spring hunting, Prof. Cassola said, “Both the Nationalist and Labour party are confirming that they are both in favour of spring hunting. We state without hesitation that we are against Joseph Muscat’s decision to reduce fines. Simon Busuttil is not only saying that he voted in favour of spring hunting when environmentalists had warned otherwise, but he is also saying that the issue is a ‘case closed’. While we respect the results of the referendum, for us the case will not be closed until spring hunting stops.”

Prof. Cassola also stated that the illegal boathouses in Armier, L’Ahrax, and St Thomas Bay need to be removed, “while PN and PL re- main mute on the subject”.

On the Gozo tunnel project, he said, “Both the PN and PL agree that a tunnel between Malta and Gozo is a must. Although not one geological study has been published, Simon Busuttil says that if he is elected he will start to drill, while Joseph Muscat pledges that it will be ready in seven years’ time. We say that this enormous project is not sustainable for our country – from an economic, social and environmental point of view.

“They have been playing with Gozitans with the promised of a fibre optic cable and fast ferry service which we have not yet seen.”

Regarding the car-racing track, Prof. Cassola said that both PN and PL agree to it, despite sound and air pollution. AD stated that there cannot be a car-racing track because of Malta’s size.

When it comes to institutions, the AD Chairman said that apart from the offices of the Ombudsman and Auditor, all others work in the interest of the present government, taking order from the Prime Minister.

“Goodbye to checks and balances because who takes government takes everything,” he said, listing Bank of Valletta, Enemalta, Teatru Manoel, Water Services, Mount Carmel, Mater Dei, the Brigadier of the Armed Forces and the Police Commissioner as cases in point.

“In our manifesto we pledge that Parliament regains the power from the government to appoint the highest posts in in- stitutions and state agencies. These should be appointed through public hearings,” he said.

Mentioning corruption, Prof. Cassola said “I don’t even know where to begin.” Referring to the Malta Files issue, he said “a big well done to both parties that, through Parliament, approved laws that turned us into a pirate base.

“The systems of the PL and PN have given our country such a bad reputation,” he said, adding that the system has led to “unbridled abuse, with conflicts of interest and total lack of ethical behaviour”.

“The majority of the Maltese do not relate to political offenders who think only about their interests,” he said.