When low standards become none

On Saturday, February 3, the Prime Minister spent the afternoon in Gozo in a frenetic last-minute search to find PN candidates to contest the local council elections in Munxar.

Following Dr Gonzi's failure to persuade several other individuals to do so, it was announced late in the evening that the current PN mayor Joseph Sultana and Saviour Spiteri, a contractor, had been approved to contest the election, despite the fact that both had recently engaged in the irregular laying of concrete on Tas-Sanap Cliffs, next to Ta' Cenc.

In his role as mayor, Mr Sultana grievously exceeded his brief by undertaking a reckless exercise which had not been sanctioned by a quorum of councillors. As a contractor, Mr Spiteri cannot plausibly plead ignorance of MEPA regulations in this regard.

Is this really the way forward? Is this the European mode of governance? What shred of credibility can the prime minister claim to have after formally endorsed 'candidates' of this execrable standard?

It is a crying shame that the prime minister visited Munxar for this purpose only. Residents were hoping instead that Dr Gonzi had come to investigate and redress these recent irregular activities rather than collude with the culprits themselves.