Sant accuses PM of sanctioning ministers' lies

The Prime Minister is duty bound to sack Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett after it emerged that he "lied" to Parliament, Opposition Leader Alfred Sant said yesterday.

By rejecting Mr Mugliett's offer to resign, Dr Gonzi has effectively handed out a certificate of good conduct to a minister who intervened in the case of two public officials who were convicted of bribery, Dr Sant told supporters.

Speaking during a political activity in Qormi, Dr Sant said the Prime Minister's refusal to act on the Roads Minister's case shows that the fish rots from its head.

The minister is at the centre of a storm after outgoing transport authority chief executive Gianfranco Selvaggi revealed he had been "told" by the ministry to reverse a decision to sack the two convicted officials, pending a presidential pardon request. One of the officials is a canvasser of the minister.

Mr Mugliett defended his involvement, saying the decision was the result of collective discussions.

He informed Parliament last Tuesday that the ADT chairman was drawn into the process. The minister's claim was, however, denied by the chairman in a letter to The Times last week.

The case, and especially the Prime Minister's reluctance to act upon it, was even upsetting Nationalist supporters, Dr Sant claimed.

"How can the Prime Minister defend a minister with unacceptable behaviour? He is giving his ministers a licence to lie. I am saying this with responsibility," the Labour leader charged.

In a short statement, Mr Mugliett categorically denied Dr Sant's allegations, saying it was part of the Labour opposition's mud-slinging exercise.

"The liars are those who twist facts to suit their cause and repeat lies in a systematic manner," Mr Mugliett said.

During the meeting, Dr Sant accused Dr Gonzi of turning a blind eye to controversies involving Health Minister Louis Deguara, Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea and Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela.

He referred to a recent newspaper article by Housing Authority chairman Marisa Micallef who said that a group of businessmen had called at her office one day offering the authority 200 flats in exchange for Ms Micallef's help in getting them a permit to develop a site in a scheduled parcel of land.

While applauding her for showing the businessmen the door, Dr Sant asked whether she filed a police report and whether Social Policy Minister Dolores Cristina had taken action, as political responsibility so demands.

The country was engulfed by rampant corruption and bribery. The "Mickey Mouse country" tag fits the island like a glove, said Dr Sant, who added that some of the things going on at the moment reminded him of the song It's Only Make Believe. He cited, as an example, a bus service introduced to the new hospital, which has not yet started taking patients.

Turning to the economy, Dr Sant maintained his promise to cut the electricity surcharge by half when in government and vowed to tackle the cost of living, which he claimed, was rising.

There should be no room for complacency, especially with the arrival of the euro. Statistics in Slovenia showed that the euro had brought about a rise in prices.

Dr Sant said his party was planning to write to local councils shortly urging them to propose two projects in their locality and if the projects were feasible they would have the complete backing of the MLP once it is returned to power.

In statements issued later, Mr Galea and Dr Deguara defended themselves and accused Dr Sant of mud slinging.

The Office of the Prime Minister said that all allegations made have been relayed to the police for investigation, and some individuals have even been arraigned and disciplined. There were, however, also some people who made false allegations for personal gain.

"The Labour opposition is ignoring all these facts, and is merely interested in attacking those who are taking action against those who abuse," the Office of the Prime Minister said.