Updated: Auditor slams Mepa development board over Mistra

effie carbonaro

Mar 19th 2008, 23:48

mr.brown guda is the name you are refering.editor can i call jpo a liar?ok noyou are the ed

Peter Mercieca

Mar 19th 2008, 20:37

An obvious victory for democracy where political pressure reverses bad/illegal actions that effect all of us! JPO submitting your resignation should be automatic, especially if you still believe yourself innocent!

Small question.... how many other applications were approved by the same DCC A? Shouldn't we presume them suspect too?

dorianne bugeja

Mar 19th 2008, 11:35

I think that JPO needs to resign as a pn candidate as it is so obvious that he was lying about this whole matter. I think he owes it to the PM gonzi and his party and all to those who beleive in pn party.

J.Scerri

Mar 19th 2008, 04:59

Only one question for those MLP supporters who are saying that Dr.Gonzi's government should resign. For what ? So like this they'll have the FOURTH ELECTORAL DEFEAT IN 10 YEARS in case of another election ( not to mention the REFERENDUM that you've lost and said that you've won !!!) Do someone really think that this investigation wanted by DR. GONZI, will change the opinion of the maltese voters in just 1 week ? And in my opinion, if there's an MP who should resign from Parlament, that is Dr. A. Farrugia after what he said in last Friday's Xarabank interview, that the PN won the election because they bought votes. That's really offensive & dangerous to say, more than anything said by Dr. Pullicino Orlando before !!!

D.CAmilleri

Mar 18th 2008, 18:20

I agree with you ,Mr.Alan Xuereb. Hope this mistake will never happen again , and as our PM ( mine and yours ) said , "Who will be found guilty - HAVE TO PAY " to be exactly ( Biz zalza ).

Alan Xuereb

Mar 18th 2008, 16:20

To all who's commenting against and for JPO.
As I have read before, the MLP have had enough evidence since last December.

What about hiding evidence (any type )since last December to then make it an electoral campaign? Zero tolerance? If you were right ,Mr Sant, the people of Malta should have been aware before March 2008. Not leaving the ace of spades up your sleeves.
Let me remind you all, that if you are in possesion and hiding criminal evidence for then turn it in any of your favour you are nothing better than the criminal himself.

Joe Galea

Mar 18th 2008, 14:13

Dear Mark Camilleri, do you follow what happens in this country? Sant was right in mentioning the corrupt ones.
Wasn't he right on Ninu Zammit and the money he got without right? Wasn't he right on Censu Galea, we all heard the rcordings, we all know what happened in ADT, MMA. Wasn't Sant right on the Good Causes Fund?
Yes keep supporting corruption as this is what 1/2 the country wants. GonziPN is a master in that. However, deep down in your heart you know that what you're saying is just merely a justification to your blind-foldedness in supporting a government made up of the same old faces. I think the 'new blood' deal went wrong.

Maria Dolores Fenech

Mar 18th 2008, 13:55

The following are all from articles in the Times/Sunday Times:
In a police statement seen by The Sunday Times, Dr Pullicino Orlando is said to have started calling about the application a few months before it was approved, on behalf of someone called Dominic.

Earlier in his report, the auditor questioned what had led the DCC to issue the outline permit. He said that since he had been informed that the police were investigating the possibility of criminal responsibility in the matter he was limiting himself to the shortcomings of Mepa in the matter.

“The applicant declared that he was not the owner of the land, and submitted a copy of a registered letter sent on his behalf by his architect to the owner of the land informing him of the application,” Mr Falzon said.

Need more be said??

Josanne Cassar

Mar 18th 2008, 12:49

Will all those who voted for Jeffrey please stand up?

Marienne Smith

Mar 18th 2008, 12:44

So Louis you think that pn won thanks for JPO thing? because I don't think so... perhaps yes jpo himself was elected because of this! But not that pn won because of him!
The MLP lately are blaming people (even people that are involved in their own party) and find excuses to tell their own supporters why they lost this election... instead of being mature and say what they did wrong in their campaign... including the manifestos that they came up with.

Josph Grech-Attard

Mar 18th 2008, 12:39

Oh dear Ms Deguara!! If I lend you my car and you use it to rob a bank I am as much responsible as you!! But, of course, "Gonzi thinks that Alfred was mudslinging and Gonzi is an honourable man" (with apologies to William Shakespeare and his Julius Caesar.)

Joseph Gili

Mar 18th 2008, 12:32

Shame on you JPO. How about a debate on your programes, Lou Bondi or Peppi Azzopardi. If not, shame on you also.

H. Sammut

Mar 18th 2008, 12:28

A message to those who think or believe that JPO had absolutely no part in this gross irregularity:

Did you already forget that JPO signed a contract (with the tenant) whereby one of the clauses in the contract was for the land (in Mistra) to be developed into a night club? How can you deny that JPO had nothing to do with this scandal or that he did not know about it?

I may be wrong here but I think even Joe Saliba said that had this contract been made public a few days earlier than Thursday (the day before silent day) the PN would have lost the election.

But who cares huh? As long as the PN wins thats what matters because apparently all other parties are evil and soulless (because they say the truth(?))

If Dr. Gonzi does absolutely nothing about JPO than I truly believe that we have sunk to the lowest level imaginable in our modern history and I'm certain that there many other scandals like this of all sorts (hidden or shredded) and that there will be many more to come.

Is it contradictory or illogical to say that I accept and respect the will of the people but that I have absolutely no faith and trust in our present government?

C. Borg

Mar 18th 2008, 12:25

Wasn't all this mudslinging? Alfred Sant was right then? What action will the PM take after all this?

i think JPO and PN should apologies with Alfred Sant but more to the whole nation.

E B Dougall

Mar 18th 2008, 12:11

I tend to agree with Mr J C Azzopardi and Daphne Caruana Galizia's suggestion that JPO should resign from the Party and at least, if he is not convinced of any wrongdoings, he should remain as an Independent MP. As things stand, it is clear that he was aware of the Mistra developments, and Dr. Sant was right to point out the abuse. Jeffrey lied to his Leader and the electorate and no tears can exculpate him from the wrongdoing. Come on Jeff, resign the Party whip at least.

Sandro Agius

Mar 18th 2008, 11:52

As I know, a person is not guilty until it is found to be. The problem here i think is not with JPO but with Mepa. Many like me believe in JPO and sincerly believe he did nothing wrong. But if he is found guilty, I think JPO as a gentleman as he is will admit his wrongs and will decide accordingly.

Let the courts judge Hon. Dr, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and not the people in the street. A person who did so much for the Enviroment as happened for example with the sementery must be at least respected and not discussed. Justice will speak and than we will see. For now he is not found guilty

J. Muscat

Mar 18th 2008, 11:52

Maybe JPO was unaware of it, maybe JPO wanted a restaurant instead of a nightclub, maybe JPO really cried, maybe Elvis is still alive walking in Valletta with his guitar...

r pace

Mar 18th 2008, 11:41

can everyone wait for the police report before reaching to conclusions? did the mepa report mention any wrongdoing by JPO? so wait.

R Borg

Mar 18th 2008, 11:26

I will await Dr.Gonzi to speak and act about this report with out hesitation. After all he told us to judge him on his action. Up to the 8th March he led us to believe JPO.

A. Tabone

Mar 18th 2008, 11:08

Dear Daphne,

Whilst your comment makes sense, it still confuses me. Because the people voted for JPO as representing the Nationalist party. I mean he was elected on that basis and not as an independent so I do not understand how he can retain his seat as an independent or as an MLP because that would go against the concept of democracy (in the logic of my mind).

Ultimately those who voted him their main aim was to elect PN, and JPO was a secondary objective.

Andrew Sciberras

Mar 18th 2008, 11:01

This is not a question of technicalities and who JPO answers to and who can ask him to resign. This is a question of honour and decency. Fortunately the majority of people on these islands still believe in those values (at least I hope so).

JPO should do the honourable and decent thing and resign....we will even allow him another crying session as he does so!

Maria Dolores Fenech

Mar 18th 2008, 10:51

Does anyone now believe Dr Gonzi when he said he was not aware of all the facts of this application? Would he not find out as much as he can about something that nearly cost PN to lose the election?
I do not blame those people who did not want to be part of this government by not voting for PN. But please do not be idle next election, vote MLP.

Dr. Keith Grech

Mar 18th 2008, 10:48

To my esteemed colleague Dr. Borg Cardona I will only say that whilst technically he is right of course, Malta being what it is, JPO and his asiduous defence by GonziPN before the general election have contributed just enough to keep the PN in government. For once, let's just call a spade a spade, shall we? JPO and the PN were in the wrong on this one. The MLP and Dr. Sant have been proven right. Yet, once again the PN are in Government, the MLP in Opposition, and Dr. Sant, a truly honest man, cast aside in the political wilderness. There is only one honorable way for GonziPN out of this mess of their own making, particularly when taking account of the very slim relative majority they enjoy. Immediate talks should take place between both parties and an election date pre-set for later on this year with a clear commitment from the Government's side that the decision to freeze MEPA's permit dishing out process will remain until after the election. Somehow, however, something tells me that GonziPN, despite all their sanctimonious posturing, will not do the honorable thing. They will hang in there for the term, despite the very questionable basis upon which their electoral 'victory' is based.

To all those calling for JPO's resignation, I will just say that indeed this would be the honorable thing to be done in such a case. However, should this occur, the damage would still have been done. The PN would still be in Government, despite the fact that its electoral 'victory' is rather illegitamate.

Mark Camilleri

Mar 18th 2008, 10:26

just to point out that the PM accused Sant of mudslinging not only on this case but on the other cases that Sant raised about other people in the PN administration.

so let's not now make Alfred Sant pass by as the virgin here.

this is the ONLY case where he provided evidence. it seems that he was right on this one but what about all the other people in the MLP billboards?

does he have any proof on those?

seems to me like the MLP is now hanging on to this one good thing they did to divert the attention away from the disaster that is lying within the MLP!

so yes thank you Dr. Sant about this one but we would appreciate if you can give us proof of all the other people that you accused of being corrupt.

I. Brown

Mar 18th 2008, 10:14

Certainly, Ms Deguara, he is one big big respected man. His only little, minute blemish was to lie (or tell a half-truth, maybe) to his own leader and to the person who backed him throughout the electoral campaign.

Apart from all that, Ms Deguara, I understand JPO is just a very unlucky victim of circumstances and Labour paranoia. Just like a modern-day, well-dressed Fantozzi.

Definitely, he is the role model I want my children to follow. "Look, that is the respected man who spends his day toiling on his fields with a press card in hand, with tears streaming down his face..."

At this stage, I wouldn't even trust JPO with my molars.

margaret deguara

Mar 18th 2008, 09:52

it seems to me they should be checking mepa not Dr J.P.O as they passed it not him!!!! Dr J.P.O is one respected man so think about what you are saying

vincent camilleri

Mar 18th 2008, 09:44

Those who are saying that the Prime Minister cannot ask JPO to resign, are ignoring the fact that Dr Gonzi is also the leader of the Nationalist Party and hence owes a responsibility to the thousands of Nationalists who gave their votes to JPO. It is now very clear that these people, like the rest of the Maltese, have been misled and deceived. The least Dr Gonzi can do as justice to these people is removing JPO as their Nationalist Party representative in Parliament.

An apology and a word of thanks from Dr Gonzi to Dr Sant are also in order since it is now proved that had he not revealed this scandal, the rape of Mistra would have been signed, sealed and delivered.

Anyone still talking about mudslinging here?

Aaron Demanule

Mar 18th 2008, 09:29

Many people, reading this article believe that justice has not been made. They believe that they have been deceived - especially by the way PN projected JPO innocence.

Dr Gonzi now has a choice:-
1. Accept JPO in his party means being part of corrupt practises;
2. ASk JPO to resign and JPO does so;
3. If JPO doesn't resign, ask for new elections.

One has also to take this into the perspective that PN has only a relative majority of 1500 votes. How can Gonzi govern in such conditions?!

m pisani

Mar 18th 2008, 09:17

JPO has belittled the PN enough with his actions. He should do the whole nation a favour and resign.

Louis Schembri

Mar 18th 2008, 08:57

So it now turns out that, in all probability, the PN only managed to obtain its slim majority to govern thanks to those 5125 voters in the 7th and 11th districts who were duped into believing (by JPO himself assisted by Dr Gonzi, Joe Saliba and the PN bandwagon) that he was "innocent" and a victim of a smear campaign by Dr Sant. Surely if Dr Gonzi had allowed the auditor report to be published before the election, at least 1580 voters from amongst JPO's blinkered devotees and from other PN supporters all over Malta would have either voted differently or abstained from voting. What remains to be seen now are two things: (1) whether Dr Gonzi has the moral fibre to censure both Pullicinos, the part-time farmer and the other Pullicino who ultimately had ministerial responsibility for MEPA's doings, and (2) whether the police will launch a criminal investigation on whoever was responsible for allowing this situation.

Miguel Fenech

Mar 18th 2008, 08:42

This scandal was already known before the election. There was written evidence. Resignation of JPO, even if possible, would not change anything, nor does the withdrawal of the permit. Let's remember that the then-Minister of Environment and PM are still in today's Cabinet. My rhetoric and hypothetical questions are: Would you send your kids to a school where a prominent teacher has been found abusing students but the headmaster says he knew nothing and promises to fix everything? What do "responsibility" and "accountability" really mean? As I said, these are rhetoric questions.

Joseph Grech-Attard

Mar 18th 2008, 08:41

Recent history of 'honest' and 'moral' (not to mention 'Christian') Maltese elections and politics: 1. 2003 - EFA accuses Alfred Sant with personal irregularities regarding his son, wins the elections, is proved wrong by the courts and becomes president. 2. 2008 - Alfred Sant accuses gonziPN with ireegularities in administration, loses the elections, is proved right by the Auditor, resigns from politics. Conclusion - not everyone who is credible says the truth; he who says the truth has to suffer. The electorate choses and acts according to what examples the top people show to him. Let us all act before it is too late for our youths and then we blame them for being without values!! Gonzi do a u-turn and give us a good example for the sake of our morally and ethically sinking island. Clean our land from corruption, whoever it may be. Prove to us that there is nothing wrong in doing a U-turn if is for the good of the clountry, even if might not be good for the party. Let peace, values, morality, ethics and truth reign even in politics. By the way, I am a Labour supporter.

I. Brown

Mar 18th 2008, 08:41

Think that just a week ago this man was carried on people's shoulders like the saviour of the nation from the angry tentacles of the "MLPAD" .

Good Friday beckons - can someone lend him the costume of that apostle whose name escapes me?

Robert Dimech

Mar 18th 2008, 08:37

The only problem with JPO being emarginated by the NP he presently represents (which in principle I agree to) is that the balance of power in parliament hinges on one vote. So in practice, I can't see it happening!

SIMON FENECH

Mar 18th 2008, 08:25

JPO did nothing wrong. He was not the one that applied for the permit.. If and when hes found guilty which he wont be for sure its up to him what to do not the PM

Joe Galea

Mar 18th 2008, 08:24

Dear Andrew Borg Cardona JPO is in the PN Parliament so he is part of your baggage. PN supported JPOdepicting him as a martyr before the election, again and again demonising Dr. Sant.
I think the right always win after all, but in Malta where everything goes the other way round, the losers win and winners lose.
So wasn't mud-sling after all. I ma happy that at least Dr. Sant has been vindicated, as he was one of the very few honest politicians of all times. He always said the truth and he was punished for that.
Let's see how Gonzi will handle this. Will we have a poisoned parliament with JPO just for the sake to keep the PN in power? Hope not, but Gonzi will do all his best to retain power no matter what. Why the report wasn't published before the elections? Most probably the story would be different.
Those who voted JPO we thank you as you gave us a corrupt person in parliament and for contributing to the deficiencies of this legislature, which is already facing it's own skeletons in the closet.

Joe Agius

Mar 18th 2008, 07:53

I fully concur with Mr Xuereb. JPO is to be asked to resign, if he stays on, it should not be as a representative of the Party in Govt, or else declare himself Natura 2000 Independent M.P. Otherwise, the Prim Minister is kindly asked to have him expelled from the Party and call another election. Only in this way all that has been said prior to the election will weigh in credibility.

Charles Alamango

Mar 18th 2008, 07:48

Dr Gonzi. our nation has been entrusted to your care we are confident you will find the best solution and justice for all.

J.c.Azzopardi

Mar 18th 2008, 06:53

Had this scandal been known at least a week before the election, the balance of power would have been different, and Dr. Sant would have been proved right. As things now stand, the decision of VOX POPULI should be respected but Jeffrey, one way or another should resign or forced to. His other alternative is to stay on as an Independent MP, but not representing the PN.

Andrew Borg-Cardoa

Mar 18th 2008, 06:26

Just for the sake of accuracy: JPO is not "in Government" but in Parliament. There is a difference between the Executive and the Legislature. He cannot be "forced to resign" from Parliament by the PM. Whether JPO decides to take that course or not is a matter for his own conscience.

ALBERT FENECH

Mar 18th 2008, 06:11

During the final televised debate between Lawrence Gonzi and Alfred Sant, I can distinctly remember Dr. Gonzi muttering "mhux veru dan (i.e. this is not true)" when Alfred Sant brought up the JPO case and several other cases, again. Indeed, both Dr. Gonzi and Joe Saliba gave JPO their full backing and now it has transpired that he even lied to them. So it has now further transpired that Alfred Sant was not a liar after all, that Alfred Sant was credible in his "accusations". It stands to reason therefore that other Sant accusations made against other GonziPN candidates may also have a basis of veracity. OK, so JPO did not get a Cabinet brief, but why did Dr. George Pullicino get one? He is the Minister who presided over this disgraceful affair because the gross misdemeanours of his MEPA Board have been highlighted in full by the Auditor. In any other country in the world, including Banana Republics, the presiding Minister would be held responsible. But apparently not in Banana Malta - in our case the person at the top of this pyramid of shame - i.e. Dr George Pullicino - gets another Ministerial appointment! JPO should now do the honourable thing and instantly resign. He need not worry - his place in Maltese history is assured. He will leave behind a legacy in which he misled his party leaderand the whole country. By contributing to the wholesale campaign of character assassination on Dr. Sant, ably assisted by the GonziPN and the vast majority of the Malta media who devoted most of its time in villifying Dr. Sant rather than in investigating the assertions he was making, Malta has been deprived of the services of one of the most academically brilliant and intellectually able of its sons who was never given the slightest chance to govern.

A Tonna

Mar 18th 2008, 04:19

Mudslinging, huh?

Byron Camilleri

Mar 18th 2008, 01:43

Oh my God! This is shocking. Someone must not have been mudslugged then. Jeffry Pulicino Orlando was not the 'hero' PN media portrayed. Poor Alfred Sant was proved right after al that insults of mud-sluggling against him!

I hope one thing. This time Gonzi will be serios and kick these type of people out of our Malltese Parliament!

Ryan Grech

Mar 18th 2008, 00:40

I am now aware how much Dr.alfred sant was 'mud-slinging' the PN.

"shame on you Dr.sant.you should be ashamed of yourself Dr.Sant"-JPO

Dentist,part-time farmer,journalist and now also an actor.

Take responsibility and resign JPO and apologize with Dr.Alfred Sant and mostly with the general public.

Luciano Busuttil

Mar 18th 2008, 00:39

Why all this surprise? Did you not belive Dr. Sant when he produced JPO'scontract? Or did u belive that JPO really did not know to whom he leased that property? I wonder how many voters chose GonziPN just cause they felt sorry for JPO and thought he was being victimised! I wonder how many people feel betrayed today! Who is going to take political responsibility for this shameful lie? JPO? Gonzi hiimself who believed in JPO's innocence? Yet again Sant and MLP were right.

Graham Crocker

Mar 18th 2008, 00:34

@Dominic Muscat.
Did the villagers apologize to the boy who cried wolf when they did not believe him?

Do you want to know the moral of the story of the boy who cried wolf?
"Even when liars tell the truth, they are never believed. The liar will lie once, twice, and then perish when he tells the truth."

Thats what happened no?
Dr Sant misled before,told the truth, wasn't believed, he lost the election and he resigned, (i.e.) perished.

lol

Charles Cassar

Mar 18th 2008, 00:04

So it wasn't mudslinging at all!! If it wasn't for the Labour Party the Mistra permit would have been issued illegally. Now the auditor has proposed to withdraw the permit and the prime minister agreed. But will you withdraw the Safi permit also issued illegally in an ODZ Zone. Go on Gonzi show us your strong pair of hands!! Show us your 0 tollerance.

James Mizzi

Mar 18th 2008, 00:01

Shame on who on the eve of the election issued JPO with a press card. That was issued from the OPM. Who is responsible? Dr. Gonzi I believe. Flimkien kollox possibli!
And the electorate doubled the votes for JPO! ....you were deceived!!!

Stephen Muscat

Mar 17th 2008, 23:56

This continues to prove that Dr. Alfred Sant always said the truth!
Sant was totally right, and the others stressed that he was using the "tfiegh tat-tajn" strategy.
Dr. Sant will definitively remain one of the most honest politicians in Malta!

philip borg

Mar 17th 2008, 23:47

The Mepa Auditor’s investigation has exposed grave irregularities from a DCC board whose members seem to walk free proceeding with normal practice and whose identity remains mysteriously unknown to the public. Besides JPO, many others hold a legitimate press-card and nothing bars them from getting such details for the public’s interest …unless they’re on some official list of untouchable “blue-eyed boys”!!!
As expected, the wise auditor stopped short of digging further deep. I quote from the report above: “He said that since he had been informed that the police were investigating the possibility of criminal responsibility in the matter he was limiting himself to the shortcomings of Mepa in the matter.”
This in itself leaves many unanswered questions which the police would do well to clarify as soon as possible for public transparency’s sake. Pending such criminal findings, the political innuendo – or belief, rather – is that this government has a solid base on the outright, confirmed deceit of voters.
Well… I never doubted that, given also the hundreds of building permits issued during the 5-week campaign. No surprise that on the eve of the election the PM bluntly appointed a new DCC board within hours of the previous wrong-doers…… This in itself was the most unethical and immoral events of all officialdoms’s abusive scandals!

Jeremy Abela

Mar 17th 2008, 23:17

PM did the right thing to publish the JPO report without dalay. JPO does not deserve to be in the PN parliamentary group any more...he should make his own conclusions and resign immedietly without anyone asking him for his resignation.

effie carbonaro

Mar 17th 2008, 23:16

the golden question is why didnt gonzi order all this before the election?the golden answer is that he needed jpo votes.now jpo will be sent to the galleys.thats politics.

Victor Laiviera

Mar 17th 2008, 22:50

The first thing that should happen is that Dr Gonzi and the PN apologise to Dr Sant for all the false accusations of 'mudslinging',

Secondly, all those who were defending JPO untill the very last minute before the election should take responsibility for their actions and resign along with him.

Bernard Bonnici

Mar 17th 2008, 22:44

Our Prime Minster should tell JPO should to resign immediately ....so all the crying was just as we say in Maltese 'dmugh tal-kukkudrilli'. Hopefully it should be in the headlines tomorrow.

Daphne Caruana Galizia

Mar 17th 2008, 22:43

Without going into the merits of the case, I just want to point out that some of you here are missing the essential point that the prime minister can't ask JPO to resign his parliamentary seat - because he hasn't got that parliamentary seat by the prime minister's grace and favour. JPO the MP is not answerable to the prime minister, but to those he represents - the people who elected him. If they don't want to vote for him again in five years time, then it's entirely up to them. A ministry is different - the prime minister would have been able to ask him to resign from a ministry, because it would have been he who put him there. But JPO's parliamentary seat is his own. If anything, the prime minister can ask him to resign from the party, but he would still keep his seat, and that would leave the government without its majority. JPO can even cross the floor and take his seat with him if he wants. I'm not saying he's going to do this; I'm just saying that party leaders have no control over what MPs do with their seats.

Xuereb Manuel

Mar 17th 2008, 22:31

Another thing which the auditor said and it doesn't seem to be produced by the article up here is that


it definately stinks

jborg

Mar 17th 2008, 22:30

I think an appology to Dr Alfred Sant is in order.

Xuereb Manuel

Mar 17th 2008, 22:20

WOW!!!

It is all getting clearer. How can Gonzi still accept JPO in his government?!!

Gonzi please get rid of him from our government!!

Sant seems to have been right. Also, I now understand why he did not want to talk to him directly. This was a matter which should have been dealt with by the police....

I believe Gonzi will now do the right thing. He will call for JPO to resign.. and if he refuses, he will force him. If still refuses - he will take the country to the polls again.

N.Calleja

Mar 17th 2008, 21:34

i thought that JPO was victimised...don't know what to say.......

Why didn't Dr. Sant reply to JPO's questions if he was 'so' right??!

John Simpson

Mar 17th 2008, 21:33

Please Mr Prime Minister no more playing with words. The time has come for action. If not then this country is corrupt.

Jude T Zammit

Mar 17th 2008, 21:23

Shame on JPO. How about a press conference now? The people deserve answers with or without press cards. JPO should be man enough and resign.

Mario Mercieca

Mar 17th 2008, 21:03

Gonzi can only make JPO resign if he is convicted by the commisioner and not by the Mepa auditor since never in this report (as reported here) has been mentioned that JPO acted incorrectly. However with dignity and reason JPO should resign immediately and save the pm the trouble.

George Busuttil

Mar 17th 2008, 21:03

The JPO debacle is the tip of the iceberg. We should be told how many permits and to whom were granted in the few weeks before the election. Gonzi's appointment of a new board after the old members resigned was part and parcel with the then (and perhaps even now) ongoing tragedy/farce.

STEPHEN FLORIAN

Mar 17th 2008, 20:59

Dr. Gonzi, take this rotten apple out of your basket before it is too late.

I. Brown

Mar 17th 2008, 20:58

I would like to announce that I will stand as a candidate for the next election, and I will make it a point to burst in tears about something or other at every public sitting. Meanwhile, I will apply for a discotheque in the middle of, say, Golden Bay, chase up on MEPA to speed my application, lie, cry, lie a bit more, and make sure my party almost loses the election.

But there again I'm your next green sweetie who is as spotless as the Pope. And even if the leader of my party won't make me a minister, I will still be a primadonna who has been attacked by the mudslinging Labour armies.

Thanks JPO. You showed us all that for an honest politician to be elected is worse than... pulling teeth!

Miss you already, Louis Galea.

James Sultana

Mar 17th 2008, 20:54

John Borg, JPO didn`t apply himself, BUT last January he signed a lease contract with a third party OBLIGING the third party to invest LM 150,000 (to be verified by VAT receipts) in immovable property (buildings) within a two year period on the said site - which kind of buildings are specified in the contract itself - or else the lease contract would be terminated. I don`t think that this supports your theory that he didn`t do anything wrong. The application was submitted by another party because had the person who obtained the conditional lease from JPO applied himself, the other nightclub owners would have tried everything possible to stop the development.
If you read yesterday`s Sunday Times you would have probably read who was according to the MEPA officials phoning and making pressure on that application. The fact that he didn`t apply in person doesn`t mean anything : not only he knew about it, but in the signed contract he even obliged the third party with a minimum investment sum and specified what can be built on that land !! JPO not only did not say the truth to the general public, but he wasn`t even sincere enough with the leader of his party, because according to Dr. Gonzi himself he was never told about the contract. What is really interesting is that the same DCC board which against all procedures gave this permit was the same one involved in a similar case in Safi ! This board resigned, but within hours the Prime Minister appointed another board.
Then on Tuesday following the election, Dr. Gonzi ordered that the DCC board halts its operations. And the question that springs out naturally is : Why didn`t the Prime Minister, since he already had pleged to take MEPA in his hands, stop the newly appointed from approving applications in the week BEFORE the election ?

Dominic Muscat

Mar 17th 2008, 20:51

So Alfred Sant was right after all. All PN supporters who doubted Dr Sant should admit this and apologize publicly.

Theresa Micallef

Mar 17th 2008, 20:50

In response to the question "was Sant leading a smear campaign after all" the answer is a resounding YES!! He implicated all the ministers with the "korruzjoni" billboard yet proved absolutely nothing. Nobody should try to be holier than though, misdemeanours will occur whatever administration is in government, the important thing is to take the necessary action WHEN they are found to be true, as Gonzi is doing.

Albert Gauci Cunningham

Mar 17th 2008, 20:37

Gonzi asks the Auditor to investigate
The auditor investigates and sends report to the PM
Gonzi publishes the report immediately
the report takes prominence in todays News on One News, Net News and PBS
Gonzi asks MEPA to initiate the recommendations ( i.e to revoke the application....and rule out any further development in the area)
Gonzi rules out JPO in his cabinet
.........................seems like Zero tollerance is no longer a cliche!!! ( and this when JPO has not been proven guilty in any way yet!)

Claire Bonello

Mar 17th 2008, 20:27

So much for the accusations of mud-slinging in JPO's regard. It turns out that he knew about the application. It also turns out that the permit was granted in spite of the fact that all existent planning policies did not provide for this. I wonder if anything would have changed had this news been issued before

Michelle Mizzi

Mar 17th 2008, 20:25

crocodile tears

Stephen Forster

Mar 17th 2008, 20:23

After this apparent debacle, following the resignation of the DCC Board for a previous "cock-up" Is there no way they can be held accountable for their decision-making process?

David Spiridione Zerafa

Mar 17th 2008, 20:07

JPO is a liar and should resign from parlament and his party immeadeatly.

Dr Sant always says the truth.

David Gatt

Mar 17th 2008, 20:04

Let's see Gonzi face this. Will he let JPO stay in parliament and do nothing like in the previous administration?

Anthony Cuschieri

Mar 17th 2008, 19:57

It is a matter of honour for J.Pullicino Orlando to resign from parliament; a matter of responsibility to the Prime Minister to request his resignation. There is no alternative.

Bertu Schembri

Mar 17th 2008, 19:56

If Dr Gonzi is without any trace of corruption and is not an accomplice in this crime against all maltese, he shall do all that it is in his power as Prime Minister to ensure that every one that he protected in the election campain and now has all the proof in his hands that they were lying even to him (at least he declared that ) , be put to justice and that JPO forced to resign and do not rapresent the maltese electorate in parlament .

John Borg

Mar 17th 2008, 19:46

JPO did nothing wrong. He was not the one that applied for the permit.

Andrew Stafrace

Mar 17th 2008, 19:46

Was Sant leading a smear campaign .. after all?

Mark Anthony Portelli

Mar 17th 2008, 19:41

I agree with Mr Abela, I think JPO should resign without anyone pushing him. - No way Out

Michael Zammit

Mar 17th 2008, 19:38

Now, we'll wait for some action from the PM. I almost believed JPO was victimised! But definitely he's a good part time farmer, good politician, good journalist and indeed a superb actor!!

Robert Caruana

Mar 17th 2008, 19:21

"No action in their regard is being recommended as in the meantime the DCC board has resigned"

Is it possible that there is no sort of action that can be taken against the DCC board members who are directly responsible for this 'pastazata'?
As for JPO, the less said the better

Frank Attard

Mar 17th 2008, 19:10

It was evident from the begining that Jeffrey Pullicino Olrlando did a big mistake. The essence of the wrongdoing was, he (JPO) knew that by applying ( even though it was submitted by a third party, knowing and endorsing the contract of lease ) was an outside development zone. The Prime Minister should immediately ask JPO to resign.

P.S. People voted for Gonzi, like me, to bring the necessary change we as citizens asked to by our vote. I have all the trust in Gonzi to oversee the end result!

Robert Dimech

Mar 17th 2008, 19:03

Who were the persons forming Development Control Commission A ? Surely this is no state secret !

Jeremy Abela

Mar 17th 2008, 18:54

Now what's the next step. PM should ask JPO to resign...there is no other way out.