Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/729537
4 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2016 News YANNICK PACE THE government will be seeking to enter into a public private part- nership for the extension, resto- ration, and overall maintenance of the Addolorata Cemetery. The chosen partner will be required to complete a 26,000 square metre extension contain- ing 2,880 four-tier graves and to carry out any maintenance that the cemetery currently needs. Furthermore, a minimum of €6m will have to be invested in the restoration works and the partner will have to administer services at the Addolorata for a period of 15 years. Health Minister Chris Fearne stressed that all workers currently working at the Addolorata would remain government employees with their collective agreements still in place. He added that the ministry would be meeting with the respective unions in the com- ing days to discuss its plans. The process of choosing a part- ner will start with a pre-qualifica- tion questionnaire to determine whether or not applicants have the necessary experience, techni- cal expertise and financial stand- ing to take on the project since, as Fearne stated, this would not be a "normal tender". "We must make sure that those chosen have the necessary tech- nical skills to return the cemetery to its former glory," he added. The chosen partner will have a two-year deadline within which to complete the project and the utmost care will have to be given not to change anything with re- spect to the cemetery's neo-goth- ic style. The minister also said that the government had regularised its position with a number of indi- viduals who had paid the previ- ous government for the purchase of graves back in 2013. "The previous government agreed a promise of sale for graves when the permit for the extension of the cemetery had already expired. In addition none of the necessary signatures and paperwork was in place," said Fearne. Once project applicants have been shortlisted, the govern- ment will open discussions with the shortlisted partners and will ultimately choose the best and fi- nal offer in the most transparent manner possible. Over the coming weeks, the government will also be publish- ing a set of legal notices to cap fees on services at the cemetery as well as the price of graves. Public private partnership for Addolorata restoration and extension SONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 "To these workers and all the others, I will promise you that the Nationalist Party will never discard you, be- cause we are here to serve you and not to use you," he said. Busuttil said he frequently met parents who often complained that they were spending half their wages on food for the family, in sharp contrast to statements made by "the minister with a Panama ac- count" that a week's shopping to- day cost a mere €25. He promised that a PN govern- ment would reverse the Labour government's decision to raise government rent, because this rep- resented a tax on poverty. "You really would need to have lost your social compass if you start taxing poverty," he said. "My promise to you is that a Nationalist government will once again lower rent rates." Busuttil said it was embarrassing to meet elderly people suffering from diabetes who were no longer checking their sugar levels because they could not afford to do so. "It is high time that our elderly be given free medicine, whatever the medicine they need," he said. "And they should no longer have to pay tax on their pensions." Busuttil said cancer patients should not need to have to go beg- ging to the President to be able to afford chemotherapy. "Where is the dignity in that?" he asked. "Whoever needs treatment should have it by right, not as a fa- vour." Busuttil said the PN was aware that proper healthcare was not simply a case of curing illness but also leading healthy lifestyles in the first place. "A PN government will invest heavily in sports activities and programmes for the general public so that everyone will have a chance to avoid health problems." Busuttil said one of the first pri- orities for a PN government would be to remove the corruption that had become endemic under this administration and that had made this the most corrupt government since the country gained its inde- pendence. "We will immediately set up an independent inquiry to investigate the Panama scandal, the contract for the power station, Enemalta and all other contracts signed by this government," he said. He said that all those who had accepted kickbacks under this gov- ernment or paid money to public officials would be brought to jus- tice and made to pay for their ac- tions. "And those who suffered dis- crimination and injustice at the hand of this government will find justice under a PN government," he said. The PN leader said it was unac- ceptable that the country currently had a police commissioner who was protecting corrupt individuals and practices. "I know people are worried about security, because of the thousands of visas that have been issued with- out control and because of corrup- tion," he said. "The country's secu- rity will also be a priority for a new PN government." Busuttil said that the country to- day needed to become independ- ent again, in a way that ensured that public officials paid by the people would serve the people and not the interests of the govern- ment. "This is true independence: inde- pendence of thought, independent from injustice, corruption, poverty and environmental contamina- tion," he said. Busuttil said this was why he had announced the formation of a national coalition against corrup- tion and that he would welcome all those of good will, including former Labour supporters who felt that their party had sold its soul. "This is why I am asking for your support at the next general elec- tion," he said. "Whenever the elec- tion is called, we will be ready. We The corrupt to be 'brought to Former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the meeting yesterday