Thursday, 4th December 2008 - 17:11CET
GRTU in strong attack on Parliament relocation plans - Chamber backs project
The ruins of the Opera House in Valletta.
The GRTU this afternoon launched a stinging attack on the government’s plans to move Parliament to the site previously occupied by the Opera House.
In so doing, the chamber said, “20 business establishments in Valletta are being sacked. They and their employees have a dismal future.”
In its NewString publication, the GRTU said: “ Government has decided to spend €80m of the taxpayers` money so that our beloved members of parliament can deliver their services in a more comfortable building.
“Valletta will now have a signature building and square by the famous architect Renzo Piano. This is good news. This is at the expense of business. This is bad news.
“The project will rise from the entrance to the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen, into a city of policemen and soldiers guarding the almighty.
“We now have all this sufferance in the main guard square as Parliament sits in the Palace and our honourable members expect the treatment previously devoted to the glorious knights.
“Now they want to move up to the city entrance and you said that there is a recession and we need to spend our money on job creations and enterprise generating projects.
“Did anyone mention roads, new harbour quays to bring in more cruise liners, more factory building to create jobs to replace the ones lost during the recession, new hotels, new airport facilities to bring in new tourists?
“Oh no, Malta has €80m to spare and charity begins at home, we spend it all on the comfort of our members of parliament!"
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE APPROVES
Earlier, the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of plans to restore City Gate and redevelop the Opera House site.
This project, it said, was six decades overdue.
“For a long time, Malta’s capital city lacked an entrance that befits its Unesco World Heritage status. The Chamber now hopes that this bold decision finally materialises and that the project sees the light of day.”
The chamber recommended that the project takes on a holistic approach to ensure that the country reaps the maximum benefit from the two landmark projects.
The projects, it said, would enhance and upgrade Valletta’s image for those who lived and worked within its boundaries as well as for tourists who visited. This could only bode well for business, the tourism industry and the cruise-liner sector in years to come.
Chamber president Tancred Tabone said that the two new landmarks for the city should serve to benefit the cruise passenger sector and the mainstream tourism industry.
“It could give those who have already travelled to Malta and experienced the beauty of Valletta a good excuse for a repeat visit. The chamber looks forward to study the project in more detail in the weeks to come to be in a position to contribute with its recommendations for the benefit of the local business community,” he said.
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Comments
Has the EU gone mad recommending that each government spend 1.2% of GDP in order to stimulate the economies and prevent the recession from getting any deeper?
So, why is it such a surprise to Mr. Grima that this government has grabbed this opportunity and come forth with the amount required in order to fulfill a dream which successive governments failed to deliver? Was there a time when money was available? We all know when that was the case, but even then, nothing materialized.
To answer questions like Mr. Grima posed, the government should proceed with a bond issue for the same amount and I am willing to bet one euro that it will be oversubscribed in two hours!
Why is it that when we make one step forward, there are those who try to pull us back two?
Switching off to save an expense is one thing, e80million capital investment is another.
A few weeks ago the same GRTU had urged the government to embark on new projects to inject money into the economy. This project together with the restoration of the City Gate would cost 80 million euro. Are not 80 million euro sufficient enough to help the local economy? Should such projects be sacrificed for 20 business establishments? Does the GRTU think the Prime MInister is so naive as not to find a decent solution for mere 20 business establishments? Hadn't the same Prime Minister previously succeeded to overcome much more troubled waters than the one the GRTU is worried about?
Why is the GRTU losing heart? Why has it recently turned to be so negative in its attitude?
They are concerned about 20 businesses, which I believe will be re-located, but ignored the enormous job creating exercise spread over four years! Is injecting e80 million into the economy not stimulation enough?
They want more five hour tourists who just have enough time to visit Valletta and leave with a sour taste after enjoying a stroll through bread, fruit, ice-cream and pastry vendors, (not to mention an encounter with the odd bus driver) through a City Gate which sometimes also doubles as a lavatory, only to come face to face with a WWII bomb site!
Such are the GRTU's priorities! Be serious!