Statement by the Ministry of Finance regarding the sale of shares in Mid Med Bank plc

The sale of Government's shareholding in Mid Med Bank is in the best interest of the country and is for good value.

This agreement will net gratifying financial and economic returns. The benefits from this accord will be immediate through the great leap ahead in attracting serious and substantial foreign investment to Malta.

HSBC's strength gives additional guarantees to the bank's depositors and employees. This strength has been confirmed by Dr Alfred Sant himself.

It seems however that Dr Sant still harbours a deep seated mistrust in the ability of the Maltese to live with head high in the community of larger countries and major international organisations.

Dr Alfred Sant is misguided, misinformed and mistaken.

He is misguided because he refuses to appreciate the substantial advantage our country has when a large organisation like HSBC becomes part of our economy.

He is misinformed on the manner in which negotiations where conducted.

He is mistaken in his tactics to spread fear and doubt.

The campaign on which Dr Alfred Sant has embarked is harmful to all Maltese in general and to the bank's employees in particular. In his blinkered and partisan assessment, Dr Sant is threatening the national interest.

Stqarrija tal-Ministeru tal-Finanzi dwar il-bejgh ta' shares fil-Mid Med Bank plc

Il-bejgh ta' l-ishma li l-Gvern ghandu fil-Mid Med Bank sar fl-interess tal-pajjiz u b'mod li l-poplu Malti ha l-ahjar valur.

Dan il-ftehim hu ta' beneficcju finanzjarju u ekonomiku. Il-gid li jinhasad minn dan il-ftehim se jkun immedjat bit-titjib li se jkollu pajjizna fil-qasam bankarju u fl-ekonomija.

Is-sahha hafna akbar li bank kbir bhall-HSBC ikollu, hi ta' garanzija akbar ghad-depozituri u impjegati

Is-sahha tal-HSBC giet konfermata anke minn Dr Alfred Sant innifsu.

Dr Sant jidher li ghadu ma rabba ebda fiducja fil-hila tal-poplu Malti. Ghadu jarana nitfa minghajr ebda possibilt'? li nghixu b'rasna 'l fuq, f'dinja ta' pajjizi u ghaqdiet akbar minna.

Hu car li Dr Alfred Sant hu mizgwidat, mizinformat u zbaljat.

Mizgwidat - ghaliex ma jridx jammetti l-vantagg kbir li pajjizna jkollu meta operatur kbir bhall-HSBC isir parti mill-ekonomija taghna.

Mizinfurmat - dwar il-manjera kif saru n-negozjati.

Zbaljat - dwar it-tattika tieghu li jizra' biza' u dubju.

Il-kampanja li qieghed jaghmel Dr Alfred Sant, hi wahda li taghmel hsara lill-haddiema tal-bank u lill-Maltin. Fil-ghama politiku, li jara biss l-interessi partigjani, qieghed jhedded l-interessi nazzjonali.