Joe Saliba 'no comment' on Mistra
Former Nationalist General Secretary Joe Saliba has refused to comment on the criticism levelled at him by PN backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in an interview with The Sunday Times.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said Mr Saliba should be ashamed of himself for implying that he should resign because of the controversy involving a plot of land he owned in Mistra and which had been planned to be turned into a nightclub.
In the interview, Dr Pullicino Orlando also accused unnamed members of his party of “hounding” him and giving out misinformation even more than the Labour Party.
He said he had heard Mr Saliba say the “scandal” had won the party the election.
When contacted, Mr Saliba said he read the interview but had no comments to make.
The Magistrates’ Court last week exonerated two former members of the Development Control Commission from any wrongdoing in the Mistra case.
Dr Pullicino Orlando, who had been named Green Politician of the Year before the issue broke out just before the election, insists he has done nothing wrong in the Mistra case.
His only regret, he said, was that he contributed to over-inflating the non-issue but he did so because he was blindly following party orders.
The Mistra Bay application became highly controversial before the last election after the Labour Party accused the Nationalist MP of corruption over the case.
The land in question is part of a protected tract in the Mistra area. In a report on the case, the planning authority’s audit officer had heavily criticised the way the permit was issued and this eventually led to it being revoked.
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simon cutajar
Nov 3rd 2009, 18:05
Can Dr. JPO leave Mr. saliba alone please ! Mr. saliba was an honest person and the last election resualts shows the work that joe saliba used to do . I recomend Dr. JPO to leave the party as soon as posible . He's one of the many party members that I don't want to vote for in the next election .
simon cutajar
John Agius
Nov 3rd 2009, 09:51
Many are those that agree that a planning permit like the one regarding the Mistra case should never been issued in the first place. Likewise, it is a known fact that a court can only decide on the evidence brought before it. Moreover, irrespective of any apologetic reactions, the conclusions of the MEPA Auditor are considered by many as correct – I feel honoured to share this same school of thought. I am also convinced that one can easily distinguish who the losers (politically and morally) are in this case.
Roberto Rizzo
Nov 3rd 2009, 04:45
Whatever politicians say and do is just to get more voters. People are extremely obtuse that can't even see beyond their noses by which they are led. PL throw mud on every occasion they get, PN play the victims in every situation, what's next?
Too bad none say the truth! News has become fiction...too much influenced by the stakeholders. We're living in a world of lies, we look from complete point of views and everyone is too stubborn to check out other than their own views. Listening to both parties makes you think you're in two different countries.
This has been one of the mud shots that almost hit home, yet it still proved to be a mud shot. Was this another ACME gadgets that didn't work for Willie the Coyote? Let's just say "better luck next time" for the next round of mud shots.
Final thing... the no comment by Joe Saliba is very appropriate.... he was wrong, now he's finding it hard to suck back the words. But then again, who wouldn't?
Michael Seychell
Nov 2nd 2009, 22:09
In two comments related to this case I mentioned that adjacent to JPO's land there is an old Restaurant and a relativly new Pizzeria. Ms. Angela Muscat stated that that the same MEPA Auditor wjho criticised the project on JPO's land, at the same time "he had himself approved the building of a big recording studio and disco 2 plots away from the land in question".
If this is true it is this means that JPO and the developer who leased the land, from him are the true victims of this saga, created by the political parties on the eve of the last general elections.
Alfred Cassar
Nov 2nd 2009, 21:10
JPO qed jipprova jinheba wara subajh u jwahhal f'haddiehor ghal hazin li ghamel hu. Come on JPO if you want to say something just apologise for what you did.
If an election is held today, he will surely not get elected. So it's not just LAbour supporters are blaming him but even Nationalist supporters.
N.Cortis
Nov 2nd 2009, 19:10
Is Mr.Joe Saliba afraid of Mr.JPO? JPO didn't hesitate to say what he had to say to Joe Saliba! Joe the public has the right to know who is saying the truth!! After all,everyone remembers the fact--- or better still the" COMEDY" when, Mr.Joe Saliba acompanied Mr.JPO----in front of the cameras of TVM and on air for all viewers to see!!!!! One cannot also forget that in a record time,Mr.JPO was granted a ticket of a JOURNALIST!!!!!!! At the time these incidents happened when you were the PN General secretary. "I have no comments to make" is not accepted!!
Anthony Mizzi
Nov 2nd 2009, 18:33
What mud was thrown on JPO by Labour? What apology is expected?
What we should give are THANKS and big THANKS to Dr. Alfred Sant and Labour, as it is only thanks to them and other NGOs that supported the issue , that Mistra Bay continue to be enjoyed in its natural state.
P. Schembri
Nov 2nd 2009, 18:19
@M.Psaila. If you read the interview, you will find that JPO said that it was all a PN plan to divert the public's attention from the real issues during the electoral campaign. Who should apologise, the PL or the PN for taking the Maltese electorate for a ride and win the elections by hook or by crook?
M Psaila
Nov 2nd 2009, 17:46
WHAT A SHAME THAT AFTER LABOUR THREW ALL THAT MUD ON JPO AND PN NOW THEY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY QAS EVEN THE SLIGHTEST APOLOGY! GHARUKAZA!
ARA BIEX JOHORGU STQARRIJA WARA L-OHRA HEKK IVA GHANDU HIN IL-ALBOUR!
WHAT A PITY THAT LABOUR NEVER CHANGES!
c. camilleri
Nov 2nd 2009, 17:07
Prosit Joe. That is the way that shrewd persons act when facing rebels without a cause.
Tpaxxi lil hadt.
J Farrugia
Nov 2nd 2009, 14:48
PN is already paying a high price for being straight and honest. Instead of acknowledging all this we continue to lambast it. How I wish the labour party is in government and then we will see what these gemgiema will say if they will dare say anything at all.
laurence schembri
Nov 2nd 2009, 13:10
He has quit politics...so leave the man alone.
r ferriggi
Nov 2nd 2009, 10:09
these people were supposed to be managing the country!!!!!
shame on you and the PN if no action is taken.
the PN will pay a HIGGGGGHHHHH price fo all this.
Angela Muscat
Nov 2nd 2009, 10:01
Interesting that the auditor criticised it as he had himself approved the building of a big recording studio and disco 2 plots away from the land in question...
only in malta.
GONZI: The people are waiting for you to comment!!!