Falzon resignation a farce - MLP

The resignation of Water Services Corporation chairman Michael Falzon, who later decided to remain in office, was described by Labour MP Joe Mizzi yesterday as a farce.

Mr Mizzi referred to a meeting between Mr Falzon and Investments MinisterAustin Gatt on Tuesday during which they discussed financial variations with regard to the waste sewage plants being built in Mellieha and Tal-Kus, Gozo. Mr Falzon said the corporation board shared the minister's concern on the amount of potential variations related to the two contracts.

Mr Mizzi called on Dr Gatt to explain his "change of attitude" in less than two weeks, that is in the period between August 9, when he sent Mr Falzon a letter castigating the corporation board for its handling of cost overruns on capital projects, and Tuesday.

He said no justification for this change was given and asked whether Dr Gatt wanted Mr Falzon and the board to agree with him.

He said the Finance Ministry should publish details of the variations referred to by Dr Gatt.

Referring to the completion dates for the two projects, Mr Mizzi said five dates have been mentioned as were different expense bills.

The Investments Ministry said later Mr Mizzi implied that Dr Gatt had performed a U-turn, which was certainly not the case as the minister had never asked for Mr Falzon's resignation, nor had he accepted it when it was offered.

The ministry pointed out that the WSC's board of directors had agreed with Dr Gatt's proposals vis-à-vis the financial variations with regard to the waste sewage plants in question.

The details of the variations will be presented in Parliament when it is in the public interest to do so within the context of the corporation's contractual obligations, the ministry said.