Kurt Sansone
Musumeci says he wants to heal the political rift
'I could not vote against the motion'
Siġġiewi mayor Robert Musumeci says it is his "moral and political responsibility" to heal the rift caused by the Nationalist-led council motion requesting the government not to renew the lease of the village's Labour Party club.
Visibly uncomfortable with the events that unfolded last week, Mr Musumeci says that even though he voted in favour of the motion he did not want to hinder the operation of the Labour Party in the village.
The motion was presented by his deputy, Karol Aquilina, and was approved after all the Nationalist councillors, including Mr Musumeci, voted in favour.
"The Labour councillors in this village make an important contribution and I do not want to be the person who in any way hinders the work of the PL," Mr Musumeci says in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Dr Aquilina presented a motion asking the government not to renew the lease on the property occupied by the PL club when this expires next June. The motion called for the property, a large house on the main square, to be transferred to the local council for use as a day care centre.
The government said it would not be renewing the lease, which effectively deprives the PL of its club. The club had been leased to the PL on the eve of the 1981 general election, and the agreement renewed for 24 years just months before the 1987 election.
The Labour Party has lodged a complaint with the Data Protection Commissioner claim-ing that confidential inform-ation held by the government had been passed on to Dr Aquilina.
Denying any knowledge of the details pertaining to the lease agreement between the Land Department and the PL, Mr Musumeci says that when the motion was presented before him its content was politically valid.
"I could not vote against the motion but I cannot ignore the repercussions it created. It is my moral and political responsibility as mayor to try and fix the problem within my limitations. I do not want to have Labour exponents in this locality who cannot function," he says, insisting that he would be the first to help the PL find a transitory site to continue operating.
When asked if he had been approached to contest on the Labour Party's behalf, Mr Musumeci says: "It is not the case. I militate in the PN and the PL understands that I have a role to play in the PN. It is too far-fetched and I have not had this request."
See also today's interview.
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g.c.Forte
Aug 10th 2009, 09:44
I believe that there were other ways how the council of Siggiewi get hold of the P.L. club with good faith. Example ; find an alternative place first, give good reason why it is the most suitable place,and with good faith from both sides an agreement will be reached. But as Dr. Carol Aquilina did was, he knew that the majority of the council are nationalists, so it was really easy for his motion to pass. In fact, thats why the Major wants to heal the political rift. I am sure that the intention of Carol Aquilina wasn`t because he wants the best for the Siggiewin, but he wanted revange against the P.L. or to became ( like many are saying) a Nationalist hero. If in the years to come,the P.L. will be in government, what will it happen then regarding the P.L. Club or the P.N.`s ,it is a question to Carol Aquilina. Grow up man. The 60`s 70 `s and 80`s has passed.
M.Bezzina
Aug 10th 2009, 07:52
What goes around comes around!!
GiovDeMartino@R Musumeci
Aug 10th 2009, 07:46
Min jipprova joghgob 'l Alla u lix-xitan jispicca biex ma joghgob lil hadd. IDDECIEDI, perit, fuq liema naha qieghed. Hazin hafna jaghmel il-PN jekk issa jerga' lura minn kelmtu.
Ramon Casha
Aug 10th 2009, 07:43
Why couldn't he "vote against the motion"? Was he ordered not to? If so, who exactly is he representing, his party or the residents of Siġġiewi? This is so blatantly partisan that the rift is not going to heal any time soon.
c. camilleri
Aug 9th 2009, 17:07
Dear Robert i think that you are a liability to your party. When ever you open your mouth you only damage your party and give your political opponents a field. You are still an amateur in politics. Pls speak less and you make a better figure. You made a decision to give the public what is theirs by right. Why all this apologetic attitude. Public property is not there to be used as political clubs but should be used by the whole community. This should be your reasoning. The political rift is there in every locality and nothing will heal it though now it is dormant because of Dr. Gonzi's policy of accommodation.
victor caruana
Aug 9th 2009, 16:30
The PL should request its councillors to resign and boycott all siggiewi council elections. councillors should then spend their time helping the people from their political offices. the issue of lease should have never been a council issue.
Denis Catania
Aug 9th 2009, 16:07
This mayor should have said this before the vote, But I guess better late than never.
Deo Catania
Aug 9th 2009, 11:16
So I ask, could any Joe Public ask the government not to renew a lease of a government owned property and instead transfer it to him? because this is what aquilina did. Local councills are nothing more than scaled down political parties, they should be made up of independant persons if there's any hope for them being effective.
Ludwig Flask
Aug 9th 2009, 10:14
"'I could not vote against the motion" - you could, you are the mayor! see my further comments @ Musumeci seeks to repair political damage in Siggiewi.