Another of Muscat’s cynical publicity stunts for the press and public

On 6 April, the press were called to a big ceremony in which Joseph Muscat laid the ‘foundation stone’ of what will be the Metropolis tower in Gzira, but which is still what it has been for years now – a large hole in the ground containing stagnant water and debris.

The ceremonial stone, with its ‘piccolo mondo di’ inscription, was lifted into place by machines and hard-hatted labourers while Muscat kept his hand symbolically on the chains and the Libyan businessman who owns the project read out a ceremonial speech.

On 8 April, the same team – minus Joseph Muscat and Husni Bey – was back to yank the stone away and cart it off. The press were not summoned to see this.

These photographs show the line of cement where the stone had been placed only 36 hours before.