‘In The Pockets Of The Wealthy’: Evarist Bartolo Criticises Political Parties For Stance On Villa Rosa Development
Former Labour Minister Evarist Bartolo has criticised both leading political parties for their stance on the disputed Villa Rosa development, accusing the two of both being “in the pockets of the wealthy”.
This comes as the landscape of St George’s Bay is set to be transformed by The Villa Rosa project, set to include 789 apartments, a hotel with 247 rooms, and 16,000 square metres of office space.
“People are concerned that the excessive construction continues to rise and the remaining spaces and the little natural environment we have left, both in the countryside and by the sea, are disappearing,” Bartolo wrote earlier this morning.
“The leaders of the two main parties are in favour of another massive building being constructed at St. George’s Bay for 24,000 people,” he said.
“Robert Abela has long referred to this project as ‘beautiful’ — the Villa Rosa project, consisting of three towers; one 34 stories high and two other towers 27 stories high, forming a residential, tourist, and commercial complex.”
He continued to say how Opposition Leader Bernard Grech’s decision regarding the Villa Rosa project “revealed a strategy of being indecisive when it comes to uncontrolled construction”.
“In the pockets of the wealthy,” he said, referring to both the Labour and Nationalist parties.
“Bernard Grech is weak and is not a choice for those disillusioned by the government’s policies. Grech has greatly disappointed these voters who don’t want to hear about political parties, as he has killed any hope that the Nationalist Party could ever win their vote,” he said.
He continued to say how the fact that the Nationalist Party essentially has no money and has to rely on donations from wealthy individuals makes it “vulnerable” to those who want to “buy its silence”.
“This is a failure not only of a party but also of democracy in our country, as more voters are seeing the main parties in the pockets of the wealthy.”
“It’s no surprise that more people are losing faith in the main parties and distancing themselves from politics.”
Meanwhile, a protest is currently being organised for Saturday 26th October, at 10.30am at St George’s Bay, St Julian’s, which will involve speakers from the Local Councils of Pembroke, St Julian’s and Swieqi.
What do you make of Bartolo’s claims?
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