Contractor accuses Paola council of blacklisting him

Emanuel Spiteri filed a judicial protest against the Paola local council claiming the council had illegally blacklisted him.

Mr Spiteri, a contractor who used to carry out maintenance work for the council, said he had some arguments with the mayor after he heard that works would be assigned to someone else. The council, he added, had decided to blacklist him.

Mr Spiteri said councillor Duncan Borg Myatt had been informed that Mr Spiteri's company - Leli & Son - had been blacklisted and Mr Spiteri had even referred the matter to the Labour Party vigilance board.

The contractor argued that a call for tenders was issued recently for works he used to perform and when he enquired about it, he was told he need not apply as he had no chance of being selected.

Mr Spiteri argued this went against the laws regulating public procurement as no public entity can blacklist anyone.

Lawyer Malcolm Mifsud signed the protest.