Labour accuses Saliba of deception

The Labour Party has accused Nationalist Party general secretary Joe Saliba of twisting facts to cover up his actions.

In a statement, the MLP said that, contrary to Mr Saliba's claims, contractor Nazzareno Vassallo did win a major contract in connection with the Sant'Antnin recycling plant

The party was referring to statements made by the general secretary in interviews with The Times and Malta Today.

In the interviews, Mr Saliba said he was perplexed by Labour's reaction when he recalled that a year ago the MLP had commented that Mr Vassallo had lost out on a major contract at the Sant'Antnin plant.

Despite filing a Lm25,000 appeal, Mr Vassallo still failed to secure the contract.

Yet the MLP said the contract for the Sant'Antnin modernisation plant was split into four lots, totalling Lm10 million. And, in reality, Mr Vassallo had won the large part of the contract, valued at Lm5.7 million.

The Labour Party accused Mr Saliba of trying to mislead the public and said his boating holiday aboard the contractor's yacht had raised several questions about the contract.

"In the light of these new facts, it shows that the government's policy of 'friends of friends' remains supreme," the Opposition said.

When contacted, Mr Saliba stuck to his guns and said the Labour party was referring to the wrong contract.

"I urge the Labour Party to refresh its memory when a year ago its media commented on the fact that (Mr) Vassallo failed to secure a contract and even lost his appeal. There are different contracts, even for the same projects. They are simply trying to deceive people."

In a statement, the Nationalist Party accused the MLP of lacking credibility by changing its version of events from one day to the next, as it deemed fit.