George Micallef reveals meeting with Pullicino Orlando and DCC officials over Mistra
George Micallef, the consultant to the Malta Tourism Authority who recently offered his resignation over the Mistra case has revealed how he reluctantly attended a meeting with Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and two officials who he later learnt were the chairman and a member of the Development Control Commission which subsequently issued the outline development permit for development at Mistra.
In a long statement, Mr Micallef speaks about how he was repeatedly contacted by Dr Pullicino Orlando over the proposed development and strongly denies he was consultant to the MTA and to the developer at the same time.
The following is his statement:
I feel compelled to issue this statement in view of the extensive media coverage, concerning my involvement in the Mistra case application. This coverage is at times misleading, at others incorrect and occasionally unfavourably biased in my regard. It is felt that the stress of the reportage should be elsewhere. The sole intention of this statement is to give a true and chronological order of events. It is not my intention to enter into futile polemics - or to implicate others who, like me were caught up in the matter, but only that the truth is publicly known so that justice is done. This media statement is in line with my declarations to the Police Authorities.
I have been active in the Tourism industry since 1976 and acting as a consultant on Tourism matters since 1990. In early 2006, I had received a phone call from the Honourable Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando (JPO), who had been introduced to me some time before. He informed me that a close friend of his was applying to develop an entertainment facility in Mistra, and that he required a report regarding its compliance to current tourism policies. JPO did not divulge to me that he was the owner of the property.
I met the applicant and his architect, who forwarded me information on the proposed project covering around two tumoli. In May 2006 I (through my company Insite Consultants Ltd) presented a report to the applicant referring to the then various applicable tourism policies and other relevant recreational policies, to demonstrate that the proposed project was compliant with current tourism policies.
The report did not in anyway make reference to the environmental impact. That was not required of such a submission.
In the report I declared that I was at the time a consultant with the then Minister for Tourism, - not with the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA). I had acted in such a capacity with other previous Ministers since 1996. The report also stated that the developer was submitting it to MTA for its endorsement.
Subsequently I invoiced the applicant for the report, and my professional relationship with the applicant ended there. Thereafter I did not in any way act as a consultant to the applicant.
Recently, it came to my knowledge that MTA had already approved the project for the applicant before he had even sought my services through JPO. This MTA approval had been issued in November 2005, through an issue of a Tourism Policy Compliance certificate (TPCC).
In fact this information was not included in my statement to the police, as I was not even aware of it at the time. The MTA issues a TPCC for MEPA purposes in accordance with a procedure which has been established between the two agencies since 2000. A TPCC is considered by MEPA as a limited approval by the MTA, in so far that the proposed development is compliant with the tourism policies and conditions of the operating licence which is eventually issued by MTA.
In June 2007 - over a year after I prepared the report for the applicant - I was appointed as a special consultant to Malta Tourism Authority.
It has been reported (The Times 20/3/2008) that "MTA & Spin Valley shared same consultant". This is incorrect. I was a consultant to the "Spin Valley" project and then this consultation ended. It was only subsequent that I was appointed consultant to the MTA. This factual state does not constitute "sharing" which must be a simultaneous and contemporaneous event.
Sometime in the summer of 2007, I received calls from JPO and a high MEPA/Ministry official in respect of an application which MTA had pending with MEPA concerning the rehabilitation of the Mistra bay. The conversation revolved around MTA's preparedness to establish an alliance with property owners in Mistra to support the management of the bay, as MTA had done in other areas (such as that in Bugibba, and St. Georges Bay.).
I replied that we had already held discussions with another establishment in Mistra to this effect, in the event that the beach rehabilitation takes place. The MTA was prepared to co-operate with whoever had an interest in the area.
I then received another call from JPO, who asked me to attend to a meeting at MEPA to discuss this issue further. I was reluctant to attend, so I advised the MP that I was unable to attend. JPO requested that we meet on another day, but I replied that I could not make it because of another meeting I had scheduled at MEPA on another subject. On that day, as soon as I finished my meeting at MEPA, I was collared there by JPO and the high ranking MEPA/Ministry official. I was requested to attend in an office nearby to discuss the matter. It was a brief meeting in the presence of JPO and two other individuals who I assumed to be MEPA officials, as the persons were not known by me or introduced to me.
The brief conversation revolved around how MTA could support the Mistra application, and about MTA's pending application concerning the Mistra bay rehabilitation. The informal meeting lasted some ten minutes. During the recent police investigation I learnt that these two officials were, in fact, the then Chairman and a member of the DCC board.
Pressure started mounting through repeated communications especially from JPO. Within a few days from the ‘chance' meeting on the MEPA premises, I received a call from the MEPA/Ministry official requesting that MTA write a detailed report to substantiate its support to the application.
He also requested that MTA should convert the outline application it had for the Mistra bay rehabilitation to a full application, so that MEPA could proceed with the processing of this application. I expressed my surprise to this, as MTA's attempts to move this application had remained unanswered for around a year. Furthermore, we normally await the outcome of the outline development application before we proceed with a full permit application.
Nevertheless the official suggested that we comply in order that the MTA application for the Mistra Bay starts moving. During the call he also stated that this report was urgently needed as there was an internal MEPA meeting set within a matter of days.
I am not aware if he was referring to a DCC board meeting. I insisted that he should make this request in writing to MTA. Subsequently I received various communications from JPO asking me to expedite the process of converting the MTA Mistra bay application from outline to full. A full development application was then eventually submitted by MTA sometime in January 2008.
On Friday the 28th September 2007, the Product Development Directorate of MTA received a letter from MEPA requesting that it provides additional information and recommendations regarding the application for the entertainment facility as submitted by the developer DJRL Limited, and also to give an update on the Mistra bay rehabilitation application by MTA.
In response to a call I received form JPO on the matter, I advised him- that I and the Director of the Product Planning Directorate, who were the only two persons that could prepare the report, were scheduled to go abroad on the following Sunday, i.e in the next two days, and that there was not enough time to prepare it. However on the insistence of JPO and the previous call by the Ministry/MEPA official referred to above, I complied and prepared the report, as there was no way that the MTA director could do so in time before we left the country.
Consequently I advised the MTA Product Planning Director, that in the circumstances I would prepare the report as I had previous knowledge on the project.
I must point out that when I had given the report in May 2006 to the developer I had instructed him (as also stated in the said report) that a copy of my report be given to MTA. As MEPA was evidently processing this application, then necessarily MEPA must have prior received the TPCC certificate from MTA. I then assumed that my May 06 report lodged with the MTA was available when the said certificate had been issued, and that this certificate was issued after the submission of the said report. So, in the Sept 07, it was a matter of writing a report to explain how this project was compliant with tourism policies.
Consequently I prepared a four and half page report in the name of MTA. In doing so I drew upon the report I had prepared in 2006 for the applicant as the tourism policies referred to then were one and the same. I also adjourned the report to any interim revised policies.
I wrote the report with the knowledge that my previous report submitted by the applicant formed part of the MTA's documents. This explains why the MTA report included technical parts lifted from the previous report prepared by me for the applicant.
This report was prepared on Saturday the 29th September 2007, and then emailed to the secretary and the MTA Director of Product Development in order that it be sent in the name of the Director as in my role as a consultant it was the practice that I do not sign official documents.
I stress that the report drafted for MTA did not contain a single sentence or argument which was not inconsistent with current tourism policies; effectively, it only substantiated the approval which had already been given by MTA before any involvement on my part.
The auditor's report contains comments which reflect the auditor's personal viewpoint. The MTA report has been described as "very long": this is a relative and subjective term. The MTA report was a response to MEPA's request. Under the circumstances the above said length of pages is not deemed to be long: it is the required response. The auditor's report states that the MTA report is "biased". Again this is an assertion which however has not been in any manner substantiated - nor indeed can it be.
The MTA policies, as applied to the proposed project has all been correctly and properly referred to. Any use of the word "bias" must be followed by irrefutable demonstration of conflicts between the MTA Policy and the application.
One can also add for information purposes that from previous experience, MEPA gives only relative importance to reports issued by MTA. Perhaps the best example is that concerning all the designation of tourism zones within the local plans which went diametrically opposite that recommended by MTA.
It is important to state that my report for the MTA purposely did not make any reference to the environmental impact, as it is not within MTA's remit or competence to do so. This is as per established procedures between MEPA and MTA. MTA has always limited its comments from the tourism point of view - and solely so - and does not take into account any other relevant considerations or studies - such as potential environmental impact; and/or irrespective as to whether the proposed development is within scheme or within outside development zones.
In fact in previous cases MEPA determined its decisions irrespectively as to whether MTA gave its seal of approval, or not. To mention a recent example, MEPA determined against the Ta' Cenc application (which also was within an outside development zone), though it had an MTA approval. Even when NTOM and MTA made a case in favour of the Rabat Golf course application arguing that it was in the national interest to have a golf course, MEPA processed the application on environmental grounds, and refused it.
It is also felt that the MTA's report referred to above of the 28th September 2007, which was issued in response to the MEPA's request should have had no real bearing on the decision taken by the DCC board; it merely substantiated MTA's approval issued in November 2005 from the tourism point of view .
In fact the MEPA's auditor report is very explicit in this regard and whilst the auditor makes various references as to why the DCC should have refused it, he goes as far as to state that "the DCC had ample information to judge the irrelevance of the MTA report... as the proposed development was unacceptable in principle, irrespective of any positive implications it may have had." In this regard the auditor also states: "... the DCC Board was solely responsible for this gross irregularity in the approval of this application."
The consultation process between MEPA and MTA on such matters is conducted directly between the relevant Planning Directorate of MEPA and the Product Development Directorate of MTA, and consequently it is not the practice that such an MTA report is referred to the Chairman, or any board member. It is felt that MEPA's request for additional information was unusual.
It is clear that the MTA's role with MEPA has been fully honoured. Any responsibility I have is towards MTA. On the basis of the above, I discussed this matter with MTA's chairman on Monday March 17th 2008, which was the earliest possible date since he was away from the Island, and since the Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism had not yet been appointed. I then offered (not "tendered") my resignation to the MTA chairman and now await a reply from MTA, hopefully after an internal inquiry is held, in which all the facts are established and my comments duly heard. "
Mr Micallef said he would not be making further comment to the media and reserved his rights against the author/s and the media for any illegal damage to is reputation.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
Updated: Shot migrant in critical...
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Yana Mintoff: Family speaking to...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
83 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Corinne Vella
Mar 26th 2008, 16:56
G. Sammut: A fear of the MLP and a repeat of its disastrous record is justified. Your statement need rephrasing. It is the MLP that has to change this political state of mind - by electing a leader who won't run the country into the ground.
Karl Ebejer
Mar 26th 2008, 13:19
A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep. And the mention of condemnations, resignations, and as some have even mentioned, crucifixions are nothing but illusions.
How can one start questioning the work JPO has done over the years, or condemning at this stage?
The least one can do is wait for the outcome of the police investigations, if one is to comment at all. Until then, all this talk is as worthy as the gossip that goes on at the village grocer.
G. Sammut
Mar 26th 2008, 12:08
Ms Vella,
If JPO resigns HIS SEAT in parliament is what I meant, not simply if he resigns from the PN. I apologize if that message was not clear.
Regarding totalitarianism. The incessant fear that God forbid the MLP ever makes it to Government in 2 weeks or in 5 years or in 10 years or some time in the distant future, a fear held by many, to me is borderline madness and a support of one-party state. The same applies for MLP supporters that have a great fear of PN.
It is archaic and tribal politics. Dr Gonzi has 5 years to change this political state of mind hopefully hand in hand with the new MLP leader.
Corinne Vella
Mar 25th 2008, 23:36
Albert Fenech:You overrate the importance of the Mistra controversy in the wider scheme of things. It is hardly the most important thing happening in Europe so a little perspective is in order. We've "faced our European partners", as you put it, after far worse, including the ghastly behaviour of a former and would-like-to-have-been prime minister before, during and after the 2003 referendum. If you didn't hang your head in shame then, there is no reason for you to do so now.
M Micallef: Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is not "in government". He was elected to parliament, not to the cabinet.
Corinne Vella
Mar 25th 2008, 23:24
G. Sammut: "If JPO resigns another will take his place. PN would still have a majority. There would be no need for re-elections."
That is not correct. If Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando resigns from the PN, he keeps his seat so the PN will not have a majority in parliament and will be unable to legislate.
P.S. It is not totalitarianism to not want a government to collapse and the country to go to the polls for the second time in weeks. And it is naive to believe that all parties bar the PN are incapable of corruption.
P Borg
Mar 25th 2008, 22:31
I hate to labour the point, but I'd like to know from Mr. Sant below, what good has JPO done in the last few years?
Why didn't he speak up against the proposed Xaghra l-Hamra golf course, the Ta' Cenc or Hondoq ir-Rummien projects? Where was he in the battle against the infamous Rationalisation Plans. All it took was JPO and one other PN member of Parliament to vote against them and this hugely damaging measure would have been blocked.
This long silence of his has lead me to seriously doubt where he stands environmentally and I'm sorry to say this incident has made it quite clear. JPO has hurt many people who believed in him.
D Sant
Mar 25th 2008, 20:49
It seems like we have forgotten all the good things that JPO has done in the past and we are only concentrating on the bad press of the last few weeks. I have always thought very highly of JPO and lets let the police continue with their investigations without any interference.
Joseph Borg
Mar 25th 2008, 19:44
Does anyone know George Micallef? From what I gather he is not one that can be intimidated. Is he not the one that stood up to the kiosk owners in Qawra / Bugibba during the Bugibba project during the MLP's very short stint? As for JPO why would he need to pressure an MTA consultant? Let the Police do their job and I am sure justice will prevail !!
Albert gauci Cunningham
Mar 25th 2008, 19:31
"........if Gonzi accepts him (JPO in his cabinet I am sorry to say but next time i would vote labour...." that is what you said Ms.Karen Grech and then you quoted Charlon gouder's pet quote to proove yourself................as I've told you JPO is NOT and will NOT be in Gonzi's cabinet and while like you i want JPO to resign as i myself stated before i would be a bit more careful before using the word "corruption" as up to this moment there is no proof of any of it in JPO's case...........if there will be then all the more reason for JPO to leave..................Ms.Grech you should also know that the PM can do NOTHING to force JPO to leave parliament.....he can make him resign from the party but not from Parliament.......facts are facts.....
Lana Degiorgio
Mar 25th 2008, 19:00
Stop jumping to conclusions.JPO should be given a chance to prove his innocence. Give the man a BREAK! MLP better STOP interfering with police investigation and concentrate on their next new leader!
Paul Borg
Mar 25th 2008, 16:00
I have held back so far, not to hit a man when he's down, but now I feel obliged to answer Philippa Grech's comments.
She says that JPO has "done so much for our country" - exactly what has he done since Mnajdra and the Rabat golf course? Did he ever speak up against the proposed Xaghra l-Hamra golf course, Ta' Cenc or Hondoq ir-Rummien? NO! Where was he in the battle against the infamous Rationalisation Plans. All it took was JPO and one other PN member of Parliament to vote against them and this hugely damaging measure would have been blocked. But JPO put his political ambitions before the country's and the people's good.
Much as I had liked the man, I have long wondered if he took his his past environmental stands because they made him popular with voters in his area.
Green politician indeed!
c. busuttil
Mar 25th 2008, 15:58
I agree. Let us listen to the outcome of the investigations first, then make up our minds. Let us not forget that JPO has given years of service, that most of us were very happy with and yet we are ready to judge him not for those years but for the last months before the election.
I also agree that we are making mountains out of molehills - have we all forgotten that Fort Cambrige outline developement permit (may I remind you 368 apartments - very high rise) was approved WITHOUT an Environmental Impact Assessment - gross irregularity!!! Unbelievable!!! Case is now in front of the EU. Now who was behind that one I wonder....And that is to name one! I'm sure we can think of many others from the top of our heads - like Ramla il-Hamra - approval reversed - din gdida!!
K Caruana
Mar 25th 2008, 15:16
Dear Mr Matthew Borg,
Iplease note that this case has been an eye opener for all of us.
From now on, we must not take anything for granted. We must be more inquisitive and not take anything at face value. Everybody must carry his/her responsibility and be accountable of his/her actions.
I also totally disagree with your assessment of Mistra. It does not make any sense to ‘demote’ Mistra to a development site simply because it suffered interferences throughout the years.
Should you then suggest the development of a night club at Buskett because this once magnificent woodland is in a shameful state as it has been neglected for the last 15 years?
Should you also suggest that Ramla l-Hamra be developed because parts of this picturesque location have been disturbed throughout the years?
Matthew Borg
Mar 25th 2008, 14:31
I agree with Philippa Grech in stating that JPO has been "crucified" in such a case, but only to that extent; this because I think that the whole 'scandal' has really and truly become ridiculous in every sense of the word.
My personal belief is that everyone is making a massive mountain out of a molehill here. The fact is that despite the outline permit being approved, no development will take place on this land. That's the most important fact of this 'case' .
Also, I keep on maintaining - stubborn as I may be - that although there seem to be concrete facts that point towards JPO knowing about certain affairs of the case, why didn't Alfred Sant ever want to face JPO whenever JPO faced him?
If any particular entity or individual is to blame here, it is not exclusively JPO, but the DCC board at MEPA for being incompetent enough to approve such an outline permit; as well as the applicant for knowing that the land is situated on an ODZ and hence should not be developed! And anyhow, I wonder why on earth this place is still an ODZ... Mistra Bay is the 2nd most polluted bay in Malta, for goodness' sake. Saline marsh lands have been covered by layers of debris and metres away from the site, there are also abandoned British ruins, Mistra Village and a restaurant, among other things.
Certainly, Dr. Gonzi was spot on in saying that MEPA needs to be reformed from top to bottom, if you just simply analyse the sheer inadequacy that they possess. Also, the fact that he has kept the MTA under his wing too doesn't seem to be a bad idea in itself either!
Paul Micallef
Mar 25th 2008, 14:23
If Philippa Grech thinks for one minute that all that is being said about the Mistra project and JPO is coming from the opposition camp, then she, as someone already hinted, is missing the messages being written by those who believe that this country should be governed in an honest way from honest people.
79% of both Nationalist and Labour supporters who answered this paper's poll about what they think JPO should do, answered that he should resign.
This is the democracy honest people believe in.
Sam Vella
Mar 25th 2008, 14:20
Poor Maltese - they don't know how to deal with this and they refer to the Bible. In fact , most of them go and say "issalbux" or "thaggrux" - (crucify him or throw stone to him).
Are we not talking of a scandal? are we not talking of legal, ethical and moral behaviour?
Tony Zahra
Mar 25th 2008, 14:10
We are now a European Union country and we have seen a great leap in our standards. This leap in standards must also include responsibilities that go with positions. ALL PUBLIC positions carry with them responsibility that comes with such a position. Individuals have the right to choose - they choose to stay away from Public office and are therefore not publicly accountable or they choose Public Office and are accountable. JPO chose the most public of offices - he sought and gained office as an MP.
Since the 8th March elections there have been more details emerging which confirm that JPO was at best economical with the truth. He therefore has to assume responsibility for his actions - say sorry - and resign his two seats - as some of those that voted for him might have done so only on what they knew on the 8.03. Post 8.03 and with the information available they might have voted for another candidate. Whatever the electorate voting for JPO did not have all the information available to make an informed judgement as JPO. He should do the only decent thing and resign now. If JPO does not reign then he should be made a pariah.
Malta needs Gonzi to be brave and to lead the way to a new begining where accountability is a culture. Dr. Gonzi, most of Malta did not expect your hour of trial to arrive so soon after the election - but it has - and we are all waiting for you to lead the way to ensure that everyone is accountable for his actions. Be brave and Malta will support you.
S. Cremona
Mar 25th 2008, 13:34
It is amazing to read how many are able to throw the first stone. As Christ once said, those without sins .....
Had this biblical incident happened in Malta, we would have had a new Maghtab Mountain!!!!
Seems to me that I am living among a nation of pure virgins!
Let the police do their job and only then should there be judgement!
Josanne Cassar
Mar 25th 2008, 13:32
Philippa: maybe it's because people don't like being emotionally manipulated into voting for someone only to later find out that he made a fool of them.
F Spiteri
Mar 25th 2008, 13:28
Have you been abroad, lately, Ms Philippa Grech because the feel I have from your comment is that you are missing "something"?
If the answer is yes, then you could ask for March news to be updated.
If the answer is no, then I would say you only listen to what you want to hear, or read what your eyes prefer to see!!!!
I wonder what would happen to PN in 5 years' time ....
frida farrugia
Mar 25th 2008, 13:19
philippa grech do you call a capable man a man who try to do something behind his party. it depends what the thing is of course. ask this to dr gonzi
frida farrugia
Mar 25th 2008, 13:01
JPO should have faced lou bondi yesterday as he expected Alfred Sant to do in his regard.
Claire Bonello
Mar 25th 2008, 13:01
Philippa Grech, you may have got carried away watching too many passion pageants. There is no cruxifixion going on here or anywhere. Everybody is simply wondering why "the green politician of the year" did not object to a large-scale development on an ecologically-sensitive site when he knew about it. We think there's a difference between "I never met the applicant" and "I don't know anything about the application". We're trying to figure out why an MP who says he doesn't have the slightest connection or interest in a mega disco project keeps on phoning up MEPA officials and an MTA consultant about it. Yes, JPO acted correctly when he protested against the cement plant and the developments near Mnajdra but it doesn't justify all his actions therafter. With that kind of reasoning Nixon should have not resigned after Watergate because he had some foreign policy successes.
micallef M
Mar 25th 2008, 12:42
To Phillipa Grech:-
We cannot every time there is someone implied with corruption say "don't crucify him"
Crucification has a religious connotations - but here we are talking of justice and ethics - to completely different things.
If JPO is a good man, he should have kept far away from Mistra development - which means the ruining of a natural gem for profit.
Philippa Grech
Mar 25th 2008, 12:31
What is this obsession with the crucifixion of a good man?
A capable man?
A man of integrity who has done so much for our country and its people?
Mnajdra...the golf course...
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is the kind of man which our government needs and which our people want.
If I am not mistaken we are living in a representative democracy and it seems that in both of his two districts a majority of the population want HIM to represent them.
Surely this must mean something?
Or has the faith which the opposition has in the electorate suddenly miraculously vanished along with the people's right to make their own decisions?
Micallef M
Mar 25th 2008, 11:56
I really do not care who governs this island.
But as I said before, I work hard, I pay my taxes, and I want my children to have the best within the limits of law, respect, and dignity to others who are doing the same.
I feel appaulled that many in society use corrupt practises to obtain favours, whilst the majority is a hard working population.
With JPO case, there is irrifutable endless evidence of mal practise, unetical behaviour and probably even criminal behaviour.
I ask for justice - and I ask the PM to ensure this happens.
C.R.Taliana
Mar 25th 2008, 08:08
Dear Ms. Mallia
The cases of the Labour Ministers were not brushed aside as they themselves proved their innocence in front of a judge, so their cases weren't "brushed aside".
As regards JPO if he has the papers to prove his innocence then why doesn't he do the same and go show them to a judge? I think you're right when you say you'd rather have MANY JPOs as whoever voted him voted for a farmer, journalist, dentist, politician, actor . . . IVA KOLLOX POSSIBBLI, Vote for one person and get 3,4,5, or more. What a bargain!
karen grech
Mar 25th 2008, 07:20
dear mr. cunningham
All I know is that JPO is in Parliament on the GONZI PN side!! It doesn't matter if he is not part of the cabinet, he still is in parliament on the party side (the party which I voted).
It is not healthy to have people like that part of the party.
Yes I agree zero tolerance is based on facts not on paper, so I have that the prime minister this time will not tolerate such people in his party.
Adrian Sciberras
Mar 24th 2008, 23:35
With all due respects JPO should resign, but unfortunately in Malta the culture of resignations does not exist. Even Dr. Gonzi is responsible for JPO - i am not implicating for Dr Gonzi to resign but if the teacher doesn't have control of his pupils then he is not good to teach in that class. However if he is not allowed to teach because a pupil is distracting the class then the pupil should be expelled!
I urge JPO to look up the term Resignation:
The more time passes I am more losing credibility in politicians as we are supposed to foster Christian values according to our constitution, but apparently greed and lust for money and power politics has taken over the traditional Catholic Christian values that our parents taught us when we were kids.
Colin Camilleri
Mar 24th 2008, 23:22
Ms. Mallia,
it is all right for the PN stalwarts to replay the whole story how Labour was in the 1980's and trying to relate what happened then with the MLP candidates now.
But it is not all right to criticize JPO for his actions NOW. You prefer to have a million like him that an MLP government.
If JPO lied, then he should NOT have been allowed to stand an election. Instead he was used by the PN propaganda moguls to disturb, distract and degrade the opposition leader.
Of course whatever happens after the election is not important, the result is.
For me the PN could not dig lower than it has done. If it had little respect from me before the last election, it has nothing left now.
If JPOs resignation means another (cleaner) election in a short time, then lets be it - aren't you one of those who believe that whoever "wins" an election also deserves it? Ahhh, I forgot - u prefer a million JPOs....sickening. Clearly you have no idea what it means raping the little Maltese heritage we still enjoy....
May JPOs next permit application would be to build a Golf course on your house' roof (or why not, at your children's school playing field). I am sure you will still want more of a million like him then.
G. Sammut
Mar 24th 2008, 22:30
Dear Ms. Mallia,
I acknowledge your opinion and respect your right to it. I hope that in return you will do the same with mine:
First let me quote two stark and questionable sentences by you:
1. "I would rather have a million JPOs than a Labour government"
2. "Unfortunately, not all seem to realise the repurcussions of focusing solely on this case, and may shortly find themselves with a Labour prime minister."
In my humble opinion it seems that you would rather have a corrupt government and country as long as it is PN. Nothing goes unless it is PN. No one has the right to govern if they are not the PN even if they have much to offer the country and its entire society. A party may change and update its policies to suit the modern globalised world and aspirations of all society, Ms. Mallia, in case you did not know this.
I advise you, even though you have every right to voice your opinion, not to abandon reason from madness. What you are implying is nothing short of totalitarianism. Is that what you really want for Malta? If you truly love your country and your party I advise you to think carefully about what you are saying.
In the end, it is up to you.
P.S. If JPO resigns another will take his place. PN would still have a majority. There would be no need for re-elections. There would be no 1998.
R. Schembri
Mar 24th 2008, 22:13
Hey Ms Mallia - your statement "I would rather have a million JPOs than a Labour government, and am sure that there are many others like me", is way out of line and smells of rotten blue cheese. Come to think of it I can think of only one other person in Malta who would write something like that: the one and only Daphne Caruana Galizia.. Any relation?
ALBERT FENECH
Mar 24th 2008, 22:06
Ms. Mallia has hit the unpalatable nail on the head at last! She is fearing that this disgraceful scandal is putting the GonziPN in dire straits. Well, she is right. Any half decent Prime Minister and his Party - with people like JPO and George Pullicino (a new Minister) in their midst - would resign instantly and call for a re-election. But alas - this is Malta and we must live up to our "Only in Malta" label. What a shameful slur on the whole of the Maltese nation - internationally. The Maltese nation should hang its head in shame. Is this how we are going to face our European "partners"? The whole of Europe will eventually get to know about this and already knows, through their ambassadors to Malta and through their study of the Malta Media. We have become a European joke, and a bad one.
M Micallef
Mar 24th 2008, 21:58
Amanda, I too prefer a PN government.
But to say that it is better one million JPO than an MLP government , I think you are exaggerating, and you are grossly blind by PN's propaganda.
I want, whoever it is, a good, decent , just and "clean" government for the good of the Maltese. Surely JPO cannot give us this - figure out one million JPOs!!
Amanda Mallia
Mar 24th 2008, 20:58
R Schembri - The other cases I mentioned are certainly not figments of my imagination, having both been reported in the media in the week prior to the election.
The JPO case is being discussed extensively, however I consider the other cases just as serious, if not more (given that the men in question were (Labour) MINISTERS at the time they committed the offence), and yet, everybody seems to have brushed the cases aside.
I am not defending JPO or trying to exonerate him. It just stinks that the other parties seem to have a vested interest in focusing solely on the JPO case, because in so doing, we could have a repeat (albeit in reverse) of the 1998 election.
Unfortunately, so many people cannot see the wood for the trees, and may find themselves in a worse situation simply to have JPO out.
I would rather have a million JPOs than a Labour government, and am sure that there are many others like me.
Unfortunately, not all seem to realise the repurcussions of focusing solely on this case, and may shortly find themselves with a Labour prime minister.
C E Taliana
Mar 24th 2008, 20:16
Another scape goat slipping by I see.
Colin Camilleri
Mar 24th 2008, 19:43
For all those Nationalists who now want to swallow their words and cannot - since they cannot believe how Dr. A Sant was right and their PM was not - I want to say "Good riddance". Now some are even contemplating that JPO almost cost the election....he WON you the election, getting twice the votes since the previous election and getting elected from 2 Districts.
Still you want to blame Dr. Sant for this? Why don't you blame your PM for not being able to see what JPO was doing all these years. If Dr Sant did not uncover this "hnizrija" JPO would be dancing on your backs right now - and above all with your blessing.
The real nightmare is that more than half of the Maltese population who voted against this present government have to accept this ill faith and live under this disgrace for the next 5 years. This is not a unique case. There could be tens of others which the MLP do not about and therefore not uncover.
So while people like JPO make their living this way, you maltese citizens have to work like dogs to bring the bread on the table. And what did the PN goverment reward you with? Well you are seeing this for yourselves.
JPO is a PN candidate and if he did what he allegedly did, then this is because this is normal practise. No one will convince me otherwise that JPO was the first and the last one within the PN to do this.
A small pavement that cost the maltese taxpayers at least Lm70,000 is another case in point.
At the end it is the decision of a few that is affecting the destiny of the rest of the population - unmoral and unfair. If this is democracy in Malta, I do not want to be part of it.
I only feel sorry for the 50.5% of the electorate who have been disenfranchised.
Sharon Micallef
Mar 24th 2008, 19:27
What was it again? Tfiegh ta' tajn?
M Micallef
Mar 24th 2008, 19:27
I voted PN 2 weeks ago; In reply to some downhere:-
1. I believe Sant had all the right not to confront JPO - since in Sant's mind it meant that entering into a debat with a "corrupt" person is actually lowering yourself to his level; This is the reason why he refused to confront him;
2. Corruption is not only when money is proved to have changes hands. Corrutpion is also when people in power exert pressure on officials to obtain a favour....
I beleive JPO has to resign. He now has the whole of Malta against him.
martin saliba
Mar 24th 2008, 18:59
the pm should call for a re election in the districts that jpo contested. would be quite interestin.
J borg
Mar 24th 2008, 18:48
Can there possibly be some one out there who still thinks that jpo is innocent.
If there is .
Than i proclaim myself an idiot.
Maria Dolores Fenech
Mar 24th 2008, 18:38
On Smash TV programme "Realta" on Monday before the Election, a lady (I don't recall her name) said that 2500 PERMITS ODZ were issued in the last 5 years. This is only the tip of the iceberg; Dr Gonzi has to see to these too if he wants us to believe that he intends to reform MEPA.
I ask PM is it right for his party to have an MP who is publicly accused of using his position to pressure members of DCC?
It is better if JPO says no more if he really does not want to harm PN any more or is this his way of getting back for not being appointed minister after being elected from 2 districts?
Albert gauci cunningham
Mar 24th 2008, 18:36
sorry ms.karen grech, Haven't you noticed that gonzi has not included JPO in his cabinet which by the way was formed 3 weeks ago????...........Zero tolerance in practice Ms.Grech not on paper!!!!! Ms.Grech before starting the "I'm an ex nationalist " nauseating brigade yet again get your facts right please!!!
R. Schembri
Mar 24th 2008, 18:22
Mr Bonnici – if you’re so naive as to take as gospel anything you read in the Nazzjon or hear on Net TV, you’re just not worth any more replies. But I’ll enlighten you just the same: (1) in front of the MEPA offices, JPO was there but he never opened his mouth, and (2) as for the Mistra press conference, he missed the Gozo ferry simply because he went for lunch at an Mgarr restaurant. Now stop banging your head against the wall.
Mr. J. Bonnici
Mar 24th 2008, 18:03
Mr/Ms R. Schembri, Dr. Sant ran away from JPO not only in the press conference scheduled on TV, but also infront of the MEPA offices in Floriana and in Gozo when he ran away to Mistra to hold an unscheduled press conference while JPO was somehow prevented from being in time to board the Gozo ferry back to Malta and be at Mistra to confront Dr. Sant. Again I ask why run away from someone when you have the facts to condem him?
M. Brincat
Mar 24th 2008, 18:00
I wonder what Daphne Caruana Galizia has to say on this matter ... please please please ... delight us with your "savoire faire" ... your delicate (sic!) and unique way in expressing yourself (against Dr. Alfred Sant ...).
A.Tabone
Mar 24th 2008, 17:35
Being a person of average intelligence I could tell pre-election that JPO was "guilty". If the contract that Alfred Sant showed left you in doubt , there was one thing for sure, which is that the JPO knew the person who was making the application. One plus one results that JPO did not say the truth when he said he doesn't know him. I mean do you have to be a genius to conclude that ?
Finally one could have a clear picture before the election, when Gonzi did not defend in any way the contract shown by Sant. If the contract was being misinterpreted or maybe it was a fake, why wouldn't Gonzi say this before the election ?
Therefore my point is that it is not JPO that worries me in this country, but the people who elected him in both districts. And I say to them ...
"Dear 5000+ JPO fans, Shame on you! "
R. Schembri
Mar 24th 2008, 17:32
J. Bonnici deserves an answer to his question. First of all the signed contract implicating JPO was brought to the attention of Dr Sant the day after the scheduled press conference. Secondly, why should a leader of a party give free airtime during his last pre-election press conference to an opposing party candidate posing illegitimately as a press representative? As far as this ploy went, “flimkien kollox possibli” did not exactly work out, did it? Or, on second thoughts, maybe it did.
Joseph Ellis
Mar 24th 2008, 17:31
The length of Mr Micallef's statement does not obfuscate the sacrosanct fact that he was in a situation of a colossal conflict of interest. He may well have come under pressure to pen a report on the application but to do so in a day and on the eve of a trip abroad hardly bolsters his claim that he was a victim of circumstances. We all live in Malta and all of us endure the length of time it takes to get something out of officialdom. He had a perfect pretext to extricate himself from the mess he finds himself in : he had been involved in the project in a private capacity and thus, could not be involved in the same project in a public capacity. However, Mr Micallef chose to try and ride two horses and is now blaming everyone, including the DCC board, except taking the blame himself while at the same time, the DCC board based its position on Mr Micallef's recommendation !
What is needed is hardly a structural reform of Mepa, though tinkering about may help, but the appointment in its various bodies of serious people who can stand up to the commercial and political pressures which are invariably exerted and who can declare a conflict of interest when they are in one.
Government should take a cue from this incredible story and subject all its consultants and public servants to a declaration, under the pain of forfeiture of the salary/remuneration for a period of time, that they will declare when they are in a conflict of interest and recuse themselves in such a case.
c busuttil
Mar 24th 2008, 17:27
Perhaps if Dr Sant were convinced that what he was claiming was true, he would have exposed JPO earlier and not waited for the election campaign to start. He would have been more credible and, who knows, he might have given MLP a much-yearned for victory. Too little, too late.
Corinne Vella
Mar 24th 2008, 16:58
R.Schembri: The "scandals" you refer to were extensively reported on by this publication. You're not suggesting that the Times bases its reports on a single person's imagination, are you?
JOSEPH CAMILLERI
Mar 24th 2008, 16:53
What a can of worms! I have a strong feeling, that this is not an isolated incident. The PM's decision to take under his wing the MEPA reform is clear reading to me that such practices were widespread. So much for claims of "mudslinging"!!!! JPO, if there's one thing you should do, its give the people the right to choose, from an informed position. Do the one last honourable act possible: let the people return to the ballot paper and cast their vote again!
K Xuereb
Mar 24th 2008, 16:50
Alfred Sant stated that he was "convinced" that "money changed hands" in this process. i.e. corruption.
Only when THAT is proven, his detractors will eat humble pie and take back the "mud-slinger" moniker.
What has come to light so far is that JPO was not as ignorant of the application as he made people, including the PM and the Nationalist Party, to believe.
Is it a resignation matter? Probably, as it seems JPO no longer enjoys the trust of his party and his voters.
As for corruption, this has yet to be proven. Alfred Sant has not been proven right yet.
I do not believe the JPO saga won the day for the PN. On the contrary, it almost cost it the election, as indicated by the polls taken during the final days of the campaign.
J.laus
Mar 24th 2008, 16:47
When is Dr, Gonzi (the p.m. of less than half the maltese electorate)is going to be credible and show his "Par Idejn Sodi"against those involved in the mistra case,that si JPO and Co,
Guzeppi Grech
Mar 24th 2008, 16:47
I Demand a recount!! Ha ha ha ha ha...it gets funnier and funnier...or sadder and sadder, depending on one's point of view. Please don't resign JPO..please stay....this is soooo entertaining!
Carmel Aquilina
Mar 24th 2008, 16:41
JPO must respect the intelligence of our gentleman Prime Minister and members of parliament and the intelligence of all Maltese people of good will, especially PN supporters. So you must resign immediately.
R. Schembri
Mar 24th 2008, 16:38
Amanda, if you had a shred of decorum left you would not shirk from going into the merits or otherwise of the JPO case and have the gall to suggest that we should focus instead on two other “scandals” of your fertile imagination. JPO’s involvement in the Mistra scandal is the current burning topic and if you have a decent argument to exonerate him let’s hear it.
J. Bonnici
Mar 24th 2008, 16:15
I ask one simple question,
"Why was Dr Alfred Sant reluctant to face JPO during the election campaign?"
If this confrontation was held before the election, things would have been much clearer there and then. There must have been a reason for Dr Sant to run away from JPO and not face him with facts!
ramon muscat
Mar 24th 2008, 16:15
JPO shame on you
do not forget that pn officials wanted to do confrontation with dr sant and dr gonzi covered him 2 days before the election. Gonzi, JPO and pn officials are all responsible for what is happening and it is not fair to run away from your responsabilities . Now it is confirmed that what dr sant said was not all mud throwing . Iz zejt tiela f'wicc l-ilma.
ALBERT FENECH
Mar 24th 2008, 16:05
As correspondent Ms Amanda Mallia still seems to stubbornly resist facing the facts in the JPO saga and has resorted to the normally fling-back-the-mud tactic, here goes for some more mud-slinging. When are the allegations against Ninu Zammit, Jesmond Mugliett, Tonio Fenech et al to be investigated? I hear there are also GonziNP plans afoot to pressurise Mugliett into stepping down - besides JPO. And of course, we still have to face the Zeppi l-Hafi saga! Want to fling some more mud Ms Mallia?
Victoria Grech
Mar 24th 2008, 16:04
JPO, how were you planning to extricate yourself from such a complicated ball of string you have apparently strung for yourself had Dr Sant decided to put all cards on the table during the stunt you pulled at PBS?
Alfred Cassar
Mar 24th 2008, 15:58
PN almost lost the election due to JPO's case. Seems like he misled the PM and the electorate.
I think his only way is to resign. The more he stays, the more support he loses.
I voted PN in the last election but did not vote for JPO because of the doubts there were on this case. I preferred to vote for a 'not-so-promising' but 100% 'clean' candidate.
Come on JPO don't continue to harm your own party, please resign.
H. Farrugia
Mar 24th 2008, 15:56
JPO, I'm sorry to say that your position is now truly untenable. The only honourable thing to do is to resign your seats with immediate effect. Notwithstanding that you gave the media some food to think about, you still did not answer the relevant and most important of questions: Did you or did you not try to make contact during this current year 2008, with MEPA or MTA, to have this application (about which you are supposed to know nothing about) to accelarate this application? Did you inform your PM about all this? These questions deserve a clear and categorical answer immediately together with your resignation. At the moment you are a great liability to the PN and to your PM. Do the best honourable thing, so as to salvage what remains of your reputation. A clear and honest statement about all this scandal (sic) will end the matter once and for all. Full stop. Save your family from further damage please.
karen grech
Mar 24th 2008, 15:50
I think its about time that JPO resigns and admits that he lied.
This time Dr. Sant was right. If the election was next Saturday I would surely not vote PN, since Dr. Gonzi failed to recognise that one of his team was lying to the electorate. If Dr. Gonzi accepts him as part of his cabinet, I am sorry to say that next time I will vote labour, as the present prime minister would not be credible. As EFA used to say "min jittollera l-korruzzjoni, jkun korrott hu ukoll".
R Abela
Mar 24th 2008, 15:33
PN and JPO owe an apology to Dr Sant and the society at large.
Amanda Mallia
Mar 24th 2008, 15:23
Whilst not wishing to go into the merits or otherwise of the JPO case, it would do a world of good if attention were focused on the other scandals that were brought to the fore in the electoral campaign. In case any of you suffer from short-term memory loss, here are a few: The fact that Harry Vassallo still refuses to complete the 37 o/s VAT returns, despite having a prison sentence hanging over his head. The fact that despite being found guilty of a criminal offence, the same man stood for election and is still the leader of his party. The fact that two then Labour MINISTERS (and not plain, simple MPs) failed to declare several thousands of Liri in income. Maybe the fact that they regularised their position is OK to some, and enough to forget that it happened and that the men in question were ministers at the time of the case in question. Need I go on?
M Farrugia
Mar 24th 2008, 15:22
Please Dr.JPO just resign from political work one of the reasons PN nearly lost the election is because of you. I believed in your good will till today but you misled nationalists like myself.
M.AZZOPARDI
Mar 24th 2008, 15:20
JPO PLEASE RESIGN IMMEDIATELY
Ronnie Gauci
Mar 24th 2008, 15:11
Who accused Alfred Sant of being a mud-slinger should be man enough and swallow his words.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Mar 24th 2008, 15:10
Last year I wrote a letter on the Times titled "new crop" in which I singled out particular praise to JPO as a relative PN newcomer and promising minister..........well after reading the last few facts I take it all back.....and have absolutely no problem in saying that JPO turned out to be very different from what many close to the PN made him out to be.........if JPO wants to keep a shred of credibility and have a chance of rebuilding his political career all over again than he should respect those who have supported him through their votes or otherwise ( letters, personal congrats and support) and resign. Make no mistake about it !!! JPO should THANK Dr.alfred Sant for the very silly way he came up with this issue at the very last minute.........therefore fuelling suspicions of more mudslinging ( after 5 years of it!!) and turning him into a HERO!! Well done MLP!! As always you fudged this one too! The court might find JPO innocent and very well so free of any corruption but and a big BUT JPO has clearly misled the voters when he said he had nothing to do with the application! Gonzi did what was good for malta and left JPO out of the cabinet now its up to JPO to do what must be done!! After all this is exactly what ppl voted for this month!! Politics is politics.....in no other career is the Maltese adage more appropriate "...hu il-fama u mur orqod..." Noone evies JPO's fame anymore i'm pretty darn sure 'bout it!!
G. Sammut
Mar 24th 2008, 15:04
Wow...these are the tactics of divide and conquer not unite and prosper. A great dose of dirty politics was implemented in the electoral campaign, perhaps by both parties, but it seems one party was correct in its statements and the other used the lies to their own political advantage. Thank you for deceiving Maltese society.
K Caruana
Mar 24th 2008, 15:04
What was the role of the architect in the Mistra night club project?
What was his advice on such a project at an ODZ?
Was the architect being informed of what was happening?
Or has the architect in such cases nothing to do with MEPA application proceedings?
Can anyone please forward some comments on this?
RITA SPITERI
Mar 24th 2008, 15:02
Who is to say the Prime minister did not know the truth before the election you can only say JPO did not say the truth to the public
Angelo Vassallo
Mar 24th 2008, 14:58
It seems that we will be witnessing a huge quantity of mud being thrown left, right and centre at each other and everyone will be, as the Maltese saying goes "il-hmar iwahhal f'denbu".
I do not agree with Keith Zammit, as it is more likely that, the PN nearly lost the election because of the JPO saga and not that JPO helped the PN in any way to win the general elections.
R Spiteri
Mar 24th 2008, 14:57
Dear JPO, Malta is waiting for your resignation. Please stop harming the party & RESIGN. I recall clearly that prior to election your speech in the meeting was totally different.... I believe that JPO is trying to insult our intelligence now to keep stressing about not lying. Let's keep PN a clean party, at whatever cost.
Claude Calleja
Mar 24th 2008, 14:53
I think we seriously need JPO to clarify things ... not that I still think he's innocent ... I'm just really curious how he'll get out of it. I think resignation is the only option ... not cos of corruption, as I have seen any, but because he lied to everyone about it. If he admitted it, I think I would've forgiven him.
D.Spiteri
Mar 24th 2008, 14:49
So it is clearly visible now, that JPO was not saying the truth before the election! He did not say the truth to the PM and the public. So Sant was right about the matter!
Josanne Cassar
Mar 24th 2008, 14:47
Wow. For someone who "didn't know anything" about the Mistra development, JPO sure got around. Making phone calls, putting pressure, collaring a reluctant MTA consultant into a meeting. Can you imagine how much more involved he would have been if he DID know about it? But of course, he knew nothing about the development permit. After all, we have his word.
Noel Cutajar
Mar 24th 2008, 14:43
Flimkien kollox possibli...
MARIO AZZOPARDI
Mar 24th 2008, 14:42
This is further proof that Pullicino Orlando did not say the truth to the Prime Minister and the electorate deys before the general election.
Thanks to his brilliant acting he managed to win the sympathy of thousands of voters at the expense of fellow PN candidates and was elected from two districts.
As the auditor has written, it is difficult to avoid claims of corruption in instances where permits are issued for development on protected sites such as Mistra.
Dr Pullicino Orlando has only one option, to resign from both parliament and the PN
R. Pace
Mar 24th 2008, 14:42
Whoever thinks JPO was not involved in this permit.... think twice!
effie carbonaro
Mar 24th 2008, 14:27
bmin dahaq bmin??.who deceived whom?/?
Keith Zammit
Mar 24th 2008, 14:18
Didn't Jeffrey Pullico Orlando before the genereal election say that he did NOT know anything about the development at Mistra? Clarification should be made about this case as many have voted JPO because they were led to believe he was being scammed by the Labour Party