Mintoff files affidavit in constitutional case

Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff explained to the court how his rights to water, electricity and sewage services had been breached.

He did so through an eight-page affidavit filed in a constitutional case against the Water Services Corporation.

Mr Mintoff gave a detailed account of the events that led to him claiming a breach of human rights and added that the story was made more complicated by events that showed he was also denied the possibility to communicate with his family and perform his civic duties.

In the affidavit filed before Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, Mr Mintoff explained that his family had spent a lot of money to install water, electricity and sewage facilities in the Tarxien house called The Olives way back in the 1950s.

When the Nationalist government issued a permit to build the area in front of the house, the government made mistakes in roadworks and, as a result, water that was meant to go into a nearby reservoir (that provided the house with water) was lost.

A contractor was appointed to repair the damage but until the work was done the reservoir got filled with rubbish, the electric pumps that transported water to the garden got damaged and the opening from where water entered the reservoir had to be blocked for a long time.

Eventually water and sewage pipes burst. After much hassle Mr Mintoff said he started discussions with former minister Michael Falzon to establish the damage caused and repair it as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the Water Services Corporation kept issuing bills and while Mr Mintoff was bed ridden, a WSC foreman went to his house to claim payment. He refused to pay insisting that he was owed money for the damage caused and soon after the water and electricity supply were cut off.

Eventually, and not with his approval, a bill for some Lm1,300 was paid and the house had the services - electricity and water from infected pipes - restored.

But the discussions did not continue and the damage was not repaired.

Since then, Mr Mintoff said, many attempts had been made to inform Prime Minister Lawence Gonzi about all this.

Mr Mintoff added that the story was further complicated by four elements which deprived him of communicating with his family and of performing his civic duties.

First, he said, he had no other place to go as he could not use his other two properties L-Gharix in Delimara and Ix-Xifer in Xrobb L-Ghagin.

Secondly, he had informed the Police Commissioner that there had been tampering in his telephone line, computer and post and added that guards, who were appointed to protect him, blamed each other for damaging his car.

Third, there was the fact that he did not agree with the decision of former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, whom he held directly responsible for many of the problems mentioned, to reach an agreement with the European Union, among other things.

Finally, Mr Mintoff added, he did not want to accept the Gieh Ir- Repubblika honour in the circumstances.