Gonzi must detail what he knew about Mistra - MLP

The Labour Party said today that the claim by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando that he did not lie to the PN about the Mistra development made it incumbent on the Prime Minister to declare what he really knew before the general election and how he retained Dr Pullicino Orlando on the party list.

The MLP said Dr Gonzi also needed to explain who would shoulder political responsibility for the irregularities which had taken place in Mepa over the past few years. On the Mistra case alone, the Mepa auditor had declared that not only should the outline permit never have been issued, but he added that in such circumstances accusations of corruption were inevitable and difficult to counter.

The MLP also pointed out that it was now also being alleged that a senior official in George Pullicino's ministry had also been involved in the pressure brought to bear for the permit to be issued. This when Mr Pullicino had been politically responsible for Mepa.

Therefore, Mr Pullicino too had a duty to explain what he knew about the case and what he had done to stop the permit from being issued.

The MLP said the Prime Minister could no longer put partisan interests first, as he had done before the election.