Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1120087
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "At a subconscious level, the Maltese elec- torate understands this: you cannot have MPs close to big business. The situation [right now] is indeed serious," Stellini said. The MP refused to confirm reports that he has been approached by ri- val factions in the PN – those close to embattled party leader Adrian Delia and those oppos- ing him – to condition Stellini on the timing of his possible res- ignation from the House. Stellini will re- portedly return to his posting with the EPP in Brussels, opening up a casual election in which rival factions are seeking to place their own allies: such as for- mer MP Jean Pierre Debono, who re- signed his seat for Delia's co-option to the House, or the PN's frontrunner in Europe, the MEP Roberta Metsola. But Stellini said that if he is elected as an MEP in Brussels he would work "hand in hand" with Malta's other five MEPs, with his priority being the use of EU funds to solve Malta's mass trans- port issues and Gozo's accessibility, as well as to create direct housing subsidies for young cou- ples to purchase property from a government foundation. "The people I meet say they want their politi- cians focused on their needs and aspirations, the what people believe is theirs by right; politicians have to give people such as low-income earners, a voice. These people want us to talk about their issues. And this is what I want to do on a Euro- pean level," he said. Indeed, Stellini went as far as saying he would never vote on an EP resolution targeting Malta unless it mentioned some other nine states – all of them from the northern hemisphere of the EU – for their egregious shortcomings. "There are other European countries that have not been mentioned, countries im- plicated in banking scandals, and human, drugs and arms trafficking," he said, without mentioning banks such as Deutsche Bank, ABLV in Latvia, Danske, Swedbank, as well as the City of London and the Dutch ports facilitating entry-points for drugs. "I am not ready to accept any resolution unless there are at least nine other countries mentioned: and they are not Mediterranean, but indeed northern and Scandinavian. If these countries are not mentioned, I will not vote against Malta. The EU has no proper measure for all countries – until that equal rule exists for everyone, I will not vote against Malta." Stellini also said that he had taken up his mis- sion as MP in a bid to work towards "a politics of unity", and help young people get on the prop- erty ladder or businesses whose trade was ham- pered by Malta's transport and parking prob- lems. "Politics is about people… mine has been a campaign focused on home visits. People want us to work hand-in-hand in Europe… my poli- tics is consensual, and partisanship does not even pass through the corridors of my mind. "But there are candidates who want to destroy other candidates, simply because they think they will steal their votes. I will build on what the La- bour government, and before that the National- ist government, had done. I want to learn from the mistakes, and positives, of both parties. I have a positive attitude… politics needs a breath of fresh air from people like me." Jean Pierre Debono and Roberta Metsola are reportedly being pushed their own factions to take David Stellini's seat in Parliament maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 MAY 2019 3 NEWS MINISTRY FOR JUSTICE, CULTURE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT #POSITIVECHANGE Source: Justice Scoreboard 63% ACCORDING TO EU REPORTS, 63% OF LOCAL COMPANIES BELIEVE THAT THE JUDICIARY IS INDEPENDENT C M Y CM MY CY CMY K YANNICK PACE A call for proposals for com- panies interested in operating an air link between Malta and Gozo has been issued by the government's airline Malta Air Travel, the tourism and Gozo ministries said on Tuesday. The service was first an- nounced by Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi and Gozo Minis- ter Justyne Caruana earlier this year. Mizzi said that officials from his ministry had worked with the airline to conclude all preparatory and consultative work, including both technical and financial plans required to issue the call. He said that the new air link would improve connectivity for Gozitans and foreigners travel- ling to the island, while also en- suring that service is available "in case of an emergency". Caruana said that talks about resuming a helicopter service with the Tourism Ministry had begun immediately after responsibility for the Gozo Heliport was transferred to the Gozo Ministry. She said that an extensive study had been undertaken in order to determined the most suitable "economic model" for the service. The service, she added, would be a scheduled one, in order for it to truly offer the best possible service to those using it. The government's vision for Gozo was to significantly im- prove its connectivity with Malta in order to maximise the island's potential. Helicopter service between Malta and Gozo a step closer to becoming a reality The last service between Malta and Gozo stopped 12 years ago when the Spanish company which managed it only operated a Bell 412 helicopter between the two islands for a year and a half Rival PN factions pushing own candidates to replace Stellini in Parliament