Prime Minister Abela backs Jason Micallef instead of the public on the Ta’ Qali fiasco 

Momentum expresses disappointment following comments made today by Prime Minister Robert Abela in an interview with LovinMalta confirming the failure of the Ta’ Qali gravel project. After months of assurances that the project would succeed, the Prime Minister has now admitted that the public should not expect grass to grow in the coming months, effectively acknowledging that the initiative has not delivered what was promised.

This project has already cost taxpayers over €300,000. Throughout this period, the public was repeatedly told that the situation would improve month after month, despite clear signs that the works were fundamentally flawed. The Prime Minister’s admission today confirms that the public was misled and that the assurances given were not grounded in reality.

Even more troubling is the Prime Minister’s decision to continue backing Jason Micallef despite his poor performance and the misleading statements made in relation to this project. This reflects a troubling pattern where political loyalty is placed above competence, accountability, and the public interest.

It is even more serious that Jason Micallef is the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy, entrusted with the implementation of the government electoral manifesto.

The situation is further aggravated by Robert Abela’s confirmation that Ta’ Qali will be used for concerts from March onwards, with any attempt to remedy the damage postponed until after the concert season. This means Maltese families will have been deprived of the use of a key public recreational space for well over a year, at least until late 2026, due to decisions taken without proper planning or foresight.

Momentum Leader Arnold Cassola said; “This is a clear example of bad governance, a waste of public funds, and a total disregard for meritocracy and transparency. The Prime Minister’s role is to safeguard the public interest, not to defend the arrogant and expensive fiascos of his special envoy. Malta deserves better standards of leadership, accountability, and respect for its citizens”.

Il-Prim Ministru Abela jiddefendi lil Jason Micallef minflok lill-pubbliku fil-fjask ta’ Ta’ Qali

Momentum jesprimi d-diżappunt tiegħu dwar il-kummenti li saru llum mill-Prim Ministru Robert Abela f’intervista’ ma’ LovinMalta, fejn ikkonferma l-falliment tal-proġett taż-żrar f’Ta’ Qali. Wara xhur sħaħ ta’ assigurazzjonijiet li l-proġett kien se jirnexxi, il-Prim Ministru issa ammetta li l-pubbliku m’għandux jistenna li l-ħaxix se jikber fix-xhur li ġejjin, u b’hekk effettivament irrikonoxxa li l-inizjattiva ma tatx ir-riżultat li kien imwiegħed.

Dan il-proġett diġà sewa  aktar minn €300,000 mit-taxxi.. Matul dan il-perjodu, il-pubbliku ġie mgħarraf  kemm-il darba, minn xahar għal ieħor, li s-sitwazzjoni kienet se titjieb, minkejja sinjali ċari li x-xogħlijiet kienu fundamentalment żbaljati. L-ammissjoni tal-Prim Ministru llum tikkonferma li l-pubbliku kien imqarraq u li l-assigurazzjonijiet mogħtija ma kinux mibnija fuq ir-realtà.

Saħansitra aktar inkwetanti hija d-deċiżjoni tal-Prim Ministru li jkompli jappoġġja lil Jason Micallef minkejja l-prestazzjoni fqira tiegħu u d-dikjarazzjonijiet qarrieqa li saru b’rabta ma’ dan il-proġett. Dan jirrifletti mudell inkwetanti fejn il-lealtà politika titqiegħed qabel il-kompetenza, l-akkontabilità u l-interess pubbliku.

Huwa aktar serju l-fatt li Jason Micallef huwa “Special Envoy” tal-Prim Ministru u saħansittra fdat bl-implimentazzjoni tal-manifest elettorali tal-gvern.

Is-sitwazzjoni hija aggravata aktar mill-konferma ta’ Robert Abela li Ta’ Qali se jintuża għall-kunċerti minn Marzu ’l quddiem, b’kull tentattiv biex tissewwa l-ħsara jiġi pospost għal wara l-istaġun tal-kunċerti. Dan ifisser li l-familji Maltin se jkunu ġew imċaħħda mill-użu ta’ spazju rikreattiv pubbliku ewlieni għal aktar minn sena, tal-inqas sal-aħħar tal-2026, minħabba deċiżjonijiet meħuda mingħajr ippjanar xieraq jew dehen.

Il-leader ta’ Momentum, Arnold Cassola, qal: “Dan huwa eżempju ċar ta’ governanza ħażina, ħela ta’ fondi pubbliċi, u nuqqas totali ta’ rispett lejn il-meritokrazija u t-trasparenza. Ir-rwol tal-Prim Ministru huwa li jħares l-interess pubbliku, mhux li jiddefendi l-fjaskiarroganti u għaljin tal-mibgħut speċjali tiegħu. Malta tixraqilha standards aħjar ta’ tmexxija, akkontabilità, u rispett lejn iċ-ċittadini tagħha.”

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