Sant’s Hondoq U-turn infuriates Gozitan Labourites
Published on The Malta Independent on Sunday 16th September, 2007 by David Lindsay.
After a fanfare press conference held last October at Hondoq ir-Rummien – at which Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant had deplored plans for a mega tourism project involving the construction of a yacht marina, villas, apartments and a hotel – Dr Sant’s U-turn on the issue this week has infuriated Gozitan Labourites opposed to the project.
It was actually less of a U-turn and more of a 180-degree turn when Dr Sant declared in a televised interview the party would favour the construction of a yacht marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien, but that it was still against the accompanying residential and accommodation developments.
The statement represents a considerable backtrack from the strong opposing stance the party had taken late last year.
Until now, the project’s opponents had taken solace in the fact that while the government has backed the enormous tourism development, the MLP and Alternattiva Demokratika had stood foursquare against it.
But Dr Sant’s remark this week has thrown a new dark cloud over dissenters’ efforts and many Gozitan Labourites feel they have been betrayed by the sudden change of tack.
One thing can be said for the government and AD: they have never changed their stance, but the same cannot be said for the MLP. Labourites, especially those from Gozo and from Qala in particular, have been venting their anger over the latest policy shift.
This is part of the article. To view the whole article, go to http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=57498
After a fanfare press conference held last October at Hondoq ir-Rummien – at which Malta Labour Party leader Alfred Sant had deplored plans for a mega tourism project involving the construction of a yacht marina, villas, apartments and a hotel – Dr Sant’s U-turn on the issue this week has infuriated Gozitan Labourites opposed to the project.
It was actually less of a U-turn and more of a 180-degree turn when Dr Sant declared in a televised interview the party would favour the construction of a yacht marina at Hondoq ir-Rummien, but that it was still against the accompanying residential and accommodation developments.
The statement represents a considerable backtrack from the strong opposing stance the party had taken late last year.
Until now, the project’s opponents had taken solace in the fact that while the government has backed the enormous tourism development, the MLP and Alternattiva Demokratika had stood foursquare against it.
But Dr Sant’s remark this week has thrown a new dark cloud over dissenters’ efforts and many Gozitan Labourites feel they have been betrayed by the sudden change of tack.
One thing can be said for the government and AD: they have never changed their stance, but the same cannot be said for the MLP. Labourites, especially those from Gozo and from Qala in particular, have been venting their anger over the latest policy shift.
This is part of the article. To view the whole article, go to http://www.independent.com.mt/news.asp?newsitemid=57498
posted by Hondoq at
9:10 PM
