Robert Arrigo does not regret backing Sliema Mayor Dimech
Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo does not regret backing Nikki Dimech at the 2009 Sliema council election, even though the mayor has been dismissed by his party.
The 33-year-old mayor, an accountant and auditor by profession, was kicked out on Thursday after refusing to resign, following his release of a police statement the previous day admitting he solicited commissions from a contractor.
But the popular Sliema MP Mr Arrigo said he had no qualms about backing Mr Dimech in the 2009 election, which saw him obtaining 1,800 first count votes.
"I backed him very openly and I'm not shy to say it because I could see he had good qualities for the post. I do not regret it because I did it as a friend. But after the election,
without a clash, we went our separate ways and did not remain so close," Mr Arrigo said yesterday when contacted.
He said he backed him "wholeheartedly" on the basis of his three year experience in the previous council, when Mr Arrigo's wife, Marina, was serving as mayor.
Contacted yesterday, Mr Dimech said he preferred not to comment on the case at this stage following legal advice from his lawyers.
However, he vowed to continue serving on the Sliema council as an independent councillor.
Mr Dimech spent six hours in police custody on Wednesday during which he confessed to soliciting a commission from a contractor in return for the latter's appointment as the council's contracts manager.
The issue came to light after the contractor's agreement was terminated after six months. The contractor told the police he was sacked when he refused to pay the commission. But police sources said MrDimech denied ever actually receiving any commission from the contractor.
The contractor in question, Stephen Buhagiar, was a former driver of Mr Arrigo at his company - Robert Arrigo and Sons Ltd. He quit that job in the middle of last year, two months after the local council elections, which saw Mr Dimech being elected mayor.
He won the tender to work as a contracts manager for the Sliema council but was let go towards the end of his six-month probation, sources said.
In a statement to the police, the Sliema mayor claimed he was helping Mr Buhagiar because the contractor had assisted him prior to the council election and had previously also helped the Nationalist MP.
Mr Arrigo denied Mr Dimech's claim.
"I never put any pressure on Nikki (Dimech) to favour any of my constituents, many of whom became his too. I never put any pressure on anybody," he said firmly.
Asked for his position on Mr Dimech now that the Nationalist Party had dismissed him, Mr Arrigo said his position was "the same as that adopted by the party".
Problems at the Sliema local council had been brewing for a number of months and
reached their peak when an investigation by the Department of Local Government was referred to the Internal Audit and Investigations Department within the Prime Minister's Office, which is looking into allegations of mismanagement of public funds.
One particular project being investigated is the extension of a tender to install fairy lights on every tree along the Sliema promenade, an idea spawned by Mr Dimech. The department's investigation is still under way.
Mr Dimech was dismissed from the party after he refused to resign. PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier said the party expected high ethical standards from anyone elected on its ticket.
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Dr Joe Brincat
Aug 14th 2010, 18:14
This is becoming a tragic farce now. First the police "sources" leak the contents of a statement to the press (nothing illegal about that ????? No Article 133 of Criminal Code, no Article 8 of Press Act ) and now an official statement from the police to deny a rebuttal. What is more alarming is that the police are insisting that the statement of X was "voluntary". It may be or it may be not. It is only in due process of law that these documents are filed and proof that the statement was voluntary is established.
That he was a nationalist mayor gives me more strength to press on these arguments.
As to his Constitutional Rights, one should read Art 39 of the Constitution. Trial is in a court of law. As to police duties, one should refer to the Criminal Code which stipulates that shall bring together with the accused all evidence etc. It does not say that first it should be whispered to the press.
Bernice Debono
Aug 14th 2010, 16:28
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil, amen.
A man also asked Jesus “How many times shall I forgive my brother, seven times?” and Jesus said “seventy-seven times”.
How much better would the world be if people especially those in the media and media columnists were to take heed of Our Lord's prayer and the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ especially those who persistently seek to put everyone in a corner and then when they are put in a corner themselves seek their pound of flesh.
eric psaila
Aug 14th 2010, 15:25
no comment
Joseph Galea
Aug 14th 2010, 14:49
Very good comments by Dr. Brincat. Hopefully we can avoid 'trial by media' which seems to be getting more common these days.
Joseph Agius
Aug 14th 2010, 14:29
Getting nostalgic to the statesmen PN once had!
P. Caruana
Aug 14th 2010, 11:51
Qed inxomm xi haga tintenn....! Dan mhux il-PN li kont naf qabel. Jiddispjacini hafna li l-PN jinsab fi stat tal-biki. Kuragg Nikki....Il-verita` kollha nahseb li ghad trid tohrog.
Mike Magri
Aug 14th 2010, 11:10
..Quote.. "..Mr Dimech was dismissed from the party after he refused to resign. PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier said the party expected high ethical standards from anyone elected on its ticket...".. Un-Quote
Do you realy mean that, Dr. Borg Olivier...!!! ANYONE....??!!??!! How about, the case/s of ___________ !!!!! (Space left blank for you readers to fill in with other PN case/s you remember from the past or even just Recently..!!)
X`Ipokrzijja Politika...!!
Joe Busuttil
Aug 14th 2010, 12:17
Don't you think you should have left more space to fill in with similar cases? how about a whole issue of the Sunday Times? To be fair,we can begin with the Terinu case and continue from there. Previous cases can be forgotten out of good will. Mentioning Terinu, I have always wondered how Mabel Strickland,the Times' owner could side with the PN after what the party did to her father. Can anyone lighten me?
Dr Joe Brincat
Aug 14th 2010, 09:56
"In a statement to the police, the Sliema mayor claimed he was helping Mr Buhagiar because the contractor had assisted him prior to the council election and had previously also helped the Nationalist MP."
This raises serious questions :-
(1) Are the police dishing out statements to the press ? When someone writes for information from the police, they refuse to give such information "because of data protection".
(2) Is a statement intended for criminal proceedings ? If yes, then it is the law that the documents are available to the person charged, his lawyer and the prosecution ? Doesthat include the press ?
(3) Press Act : Art 8 : "Whosoever......... shall divulge any secret matter confided to him by reason of his profession or calling, shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment ....."
(4) Criminal Code Art 133 : "Any public officer or servant who communicates or
publishes any document or fact, entrusted or known to him by reason of his office, and which is to be kept secret, or who in any manner facilitates the knowledge thereof, shall....on conviction....."