Victor Scerri has announced his resignation as president of the Nationalist Party.
He said he was taking the decision out of his own free will without being pushed or encouraged to do so.
Dr Scerri has, since March, been at the heart of controversy after permits were issued, and then revised, for the building of a farmhouse on land he owns in Baħrija.
Dr Scerri said he would continue to fight his case as a private citizen.
He said he had taken his decision to resign with regret and many had asked him to reconsider. As a private citizen, however, he would start doing whatever was necessary to remove any mark which could have been left by the mud thrown at him and his family. He knew the whole truth, he knew he had done nothing wrong, so these marks would go quickly, Dr Scerri said.
On the other hand, it would be difficult for the mud slingers to remove these marks from their conscience.
Dr Scerri said he felt he should not be placed as a disadvantage because of his position. Moreover, all pressure being put on him and his family, particularly his wife, should stop.
Unfounded allegations needed to stop and he should be judged on his behaviour and not on any allegation.
He said that the Nationalist Party which he loved so dearly and the government, with whom he did not have any connection, should not be involved unnecessarily.
Dr Scerri said he wanted to be able to take all the necessary steps as an individual and a common citizen without being hindered by the restrictions of his position, a position which, he stressed, had not meant any privilege or protection.
The debate on the Bahrija permit had not been objective. Moreover, facts and legal procedures were not respected and a situation had been created where those who shouted the most seemed to be believed the most.
Worse still, the main factor considered was his position as party president. This was taken as a good enough excuse for all those who wished to throw mud to do so, firing allegations and insinuations without any consideration for the truth.
It was clear that in this situation, there were elements that were using his position to damage the party because it was easy to make allegations and insinuations against a public figure.
For it was in everybody’s nature to suspect that anyone holding a position could enjoy more benefits than others.
Because of this and for this case only, he as an individual and the PN, to whom he felt so close, were finding themselves as if in a three-legged race. The situation was now at a crossroad and it was clear that for truth to prevail he had to resign from his position.
Dr Scerri thanked the Prime Minister, who was the leader of the Nationalist Party and the Dr Borg Olivier for their confidence in him in the past days.
He thanked party officials with whom he worked for many years, particularly councillors who for yet another time elected him president of the party’s general council.
The photograph, supplied by Victor Scerri, shows that the original farmhouse on the controversial plot in Baħrija went up to two storeys in certain areas.