Pending criminal court case leads to Gżira deputy mayor's resignation
Gżira deputy mayor Joe Camilleri has given in to pressure and resigned from the Labour Party after it was discovered he has a pending criminal case.
A Labour spokesman confirmed that Mr Camilleri was asked to “reconsider” his position and his representation of the party after the PL recently discovered that he had a pending criminal case.
The case began before 2007, when he was accepted as a candidate for the local council election in Gżira, but the party was unaware of it.
The details of the case could not be confirmed yesterday but the charges are not council-related.
Mr Camilleri, who refused to comment on the reason behind his resignation, will remain on the council as an independent member. When contacted at the council offices yesterday, he thanked The Times for “the interest” but declined to comment.
His departure nullifies the Labour Party’s majority in Gżira, a majority it claimed at the March 2007 election for the first time since councils were set up. Both the Nationalist Party and the PL have three members each now and Mr Camilleri sits in the middle.
The charges are not the only problem that led to the resignation from the party, sources said, referring to a long-standing rift with mayor Chris Bonett.
The rift between Mr Camilleri and Dr Bonett has come a long way. After the resignation of former deputy mayor Dunstan Attard earlier this year, Mr Camilleri took up the vacant post within the council and the problems between him and the mayor worsened.
The sources said Mr Camilleri spent long hours at the council and Dr Bonett was irked by certain decisions he had taken, which seemed as though he was bypassing him. Although he continued to express his opinions during council meetings, he still toed the party line, the sources added.
Dr Bonett did not return several calls made by The Times.
Despite resigning from the party, Mr Camilleri will retain his post of deputy mayor. For the PL to claim this post, it would have to move a motion of no confidence against him. However, the prospect had not been discussed, party sources said. Officially, the party did not comment on any plans to move such a motion. For a motion of no confidence to go through, the party needs four votes, which means the three Labour councillors would need another yes vote from one of the PN councillors.
If such a situation developed it would be similar to the ousting of former Sliema mayor Nikki Dimech on Thursday.
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simon cutajar
Sep 5th 2010, 09:40
Jien wiehed minn dawk li qatt ma ivotajt ghal - kunsilli lokalo u minn hix behsibni nivota w minix xi wiehed fanatku fuq il- politka imma niftakar li darba Dr. Alfred Sant kien qal li ma jabliex li tkun imdahla il- politka fil- kunsilli lokali u qbilt mieghu perfettament ghax kellu ragun .
Bozza f' ried street gewwa il- gzira illna tlett xhur nirrapurtawa li mhix tixghel !
VV Bartolo
Sep 4th 2010, 13:07
thou i dont see eye to eye with dr alfred sant i must admit that he was absolutely right when he suggested not to mix local councils with politics!
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Sep 4th 2010, 14:02
I am in agreement with you although it is hard for me to accpet it coming from Dr. Alfred Sant. At least we would not have the councillors changing tract from political parties to independents, although in tiny Malta everybody knowing each other, there is hardly any form of independents.
So long as the sistym remains the same the political parties have to scrutinise their representatives to make sure that loyalty to their consituents and party will prevail.
J. J. Borg
Sep 4th 2010, 15:11
These incidents have nothing to do with politics or whether the accused was Labour or Nationalist. The issue is that there are some people serving on local councils who are completely unfit for the job. They regard their position as a power trip; they seem unable to work with their colleagues; or they see public office as an opportunity to make a quick buck. But the blame lies with us not with the parties. Public indifference to council elections allows unsuited candidates to contest and get elected. How many of us really question these people when they knock on our door asking for our vote?
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 18:27
@ Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Going back to the situation where the PN and AD were sporting their candidates and the PL wasn’t it followed that the Independent contestants would be mostly Labour supporters. We can only have an apolitical council system when all our political groups rescind their constitutional right to contest these election and all contestants will be listed together and at random on one ballot paper. Before entering the race Dr. Sant made that proposal but the PN’s refusal allowed him no other option. The PL’s proposal is still valid; if and when the PN accepts the invitation the PL would retract itself forthwith. Dear Henry, this means that the ball is in your team’s court. You try convincing them if you have enough clout, my side is already convinced.
N. Buckle
Sep 5th 2010, 15:27
@ Henry Fenech Azzopardi. I know that you are old enough to know what happened in 1966 when your PN were in power without a majority. After some time something strange happened and Coronato Attard (Giovanna's father) crossed the floor and the PN now had a majority. In 1971 two men finished in prison for trying to bribe a Labour MP without success. Naturally, you were in agreement with all this as you never referred to these instances during your several postings, and I assume that for you and your party loyalty to the constituents had prevailed. Come on Henry, take off your blinkers.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Sep 4th 2010, 11:53
@ ALBERT GAUCI CINNINGHAM.
Reference is made to the remarks on my contribution with regard to Nikki Dimech by the above. Hunting has nothing to do with these particular cases, however, for your ego I confess that My Country comes before my hobby which is shooting only game birds. It is impossible to deliberate and divert from the subject in just 200 words.
I do not just follow the net news only just refer to the front page of The Times and use your calculator to establish whether the labour has a majority in the GZIRA Council.
Both incidents at the Sliema and Gzira Councils are identical. The only difference is that Nikki refused to resign and Joe succumbed to the labour pressure and resigned, thus labour losing majority in the Gzira Council.
My argument which you and Charles Buttigieg fail to understand is that although it is legal for the individuals to hang on to their position in th council as independent, it is not ethical to take advantage of the votes garnered through the respective political party, and than change independent.
I consider that voters would be led down in both instances by their representative and they shouldresign.
Marija Falzon
Sep 4th 2010, 12:27
Dear Henry, the two cases are absolutely not identical. While in Nikki Dimech's case, has been handled very obscurely from the Nationalist's party side. Indeed another Councillor resigned from the PN because of these very obscure maneuverers. But that's how this now broken party works and governs.
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Sep 4th 2010, 13:25
@ Maria Fazon
You might have a different opinion but the end result is that Nikkia Saliba refused to resign from Mayor and the PN had to keep on using other methods at its disposal to out vote him from office. IN the case of the Fgura and Gzira council both delegates bowed their heads to the PL pressure avoiding the same procedure used by the PN. These are facts.
But anyway my whole argument is, that whatever party, whether it is red or blue the concillors elected on any particular party ticket should resign, if they are not in a position to deliver the instructions given to them by their party. These individuals knew quite well their involvement within their respective parties before they presented themselves for election. This is not a matter of puppets being pulled by a string.
If anyone of these individuals do not want to have his/her string pulled he/she should immedeatly resign. Anybody may be a matter of principles, but the first principle that you have to be loyal is, to your consistuents who trusted you with their votes.
This not a matter of illegality but a matter of morality.
victor borg
Sep 4th 2010, 11:49
This is a totally different case from Sliema.This has nothing to do with the workings of the
council.Istill think most councils are doing a great job and taking a lot of pressure off from the
central govt. who keeps piling on the councils more work.
M.Fenech
Sep 4th 2010, 11:22
It looks like most blue eyed people who write on this site, didn't even read the article concerned. It states that the pending criminal case in question began before 2007, and when the person concerned was accepted as a candidate on the PL's ticket for the local council elections, the party was unaware of it. I understand the frustration by some people about what happened in the last couple of weeks, especially the soap opera in Sliema, but don't try to distort the facts, as normally you always try to do!!!!!! Lol
Franco Farrugia
Sep 4th 2010, 10:38
This report goes on to show how right I was in a previous comment when I claimed that the fact that the two major political parties are involving themselves in local councils is backfiring and is in fact counterproductive. Not only that: it is threatening the peaceful workings of a local council. It is causing great harm to the localities themselves. Get out of the local council elecitons and fast, too!
Maria D.Sacco
Sep 4th 2010, 11:24
I agree
Christian Sciberras
Sep 4th 2010, 11:52
Same here!
Anthony Schembri
Sep 4th 2010, 12:41
You are very right but political parties turn a deaf to FACTS
Peter Murray
Sep 4th 2010, 10:25
I fail to see why this should be solely a Party issue as if he has resigned from the Labour Party on the grounds that enforced such an action then surely this same rationale should effect his ability to remain as a councillor regardless of whom he purports to represent.The issue being the charge he has been accused of and not his "colour" allegiance as he although innocent until proved otherwise he will bring the Council into disrepute by asscociation and if there is no foundation to the charges against him why should he resign from the Labour Party only?
Olivia Debono
Sep 4th 2010, 10:20
Pity that The Times did not cover front page also the resignation of the now independent mayor of Zebbug and the independent deputy mayor of Gharb, both from the PN side.
Vic. Micallef
Sep 4th 2010, 10:17
Ix-xita hdejn in-nida
R. Debono
Sep 4th 2010, 10:16
The reporter tried his best to try link the Gzira case to the Sliema one, to no avail. Sliema is a council issue, Gzira is a private one. PN did a mess in handling Sliema, PL disposed of the Gzira issue elegantly without drama. PN went out to politically kill Dimech, PL did not overdo it
v.borg
Sep 4th 2010, 10:09
dejjem qet johrog bic car li ic cittadin ma jista jafda l hadd bil vot tijaw !
pn + mlp ! kollha xorta !
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 10:02
@ J. Schembri
There is a term called untenable which means ‘on shaky ground’ which does not necessarily includes criminal offences but includes the people’s perception to a public official. Had there been a criminal charge against the ex Fgura Mayor the police would have acted and the PL reacted accordingly. Maybe, people’s perception in Fgura rendered the ex Mayor’s position as untenable. I emphasize on ‘maybe’.
Randolph Peresso
Sep 4th 2010, 10:28
"a pending criminal case" means that he has already been charged, but there no sentence is given yet because the case is ongoing
J. Schembri
Sep 4th 2010, 10:55
Was there any whiff of criminal offence by the Fgura mayor which made his position untenable?
Randolph Peresso
Sep 4th 2010, 11:42
I appologise for my erratic response. I misread Mr. Buttigieg's comments as referring to Gzira's deputy mayor
ABORG
Sep 4th 2010, 09:51
is it possible that potential political candidates for council elections are not assessed beforehand for their fitness and properness? it seems that political parties are more interested in competing by presenting the higher number of candidates in lc elections, rather than conduct their due diligence assessments.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 09:44
Unlike our traditional parliament make up, in a democratic system parliaments as well as Local Councils may be constituted with more than two groups. Although the British and our confrontational style puts the MPs on different sides of the house, the opposition side is usually subdivided although not physically. Members of different groups on the opposition side may still support the governing side with their vote to create a reasonable stability in governance. The hard rule is relative majority and absolute majority is not a constitutional requirement.
In simple terms this means that a local council represented by, say, 5 PL, 4 PN and 2 Independent councillors may still work effectively if the two independents support a PL Mayor with their vote.
In Mellieha we have a situation where the PL garnered more popular votes with the ex Labour Mayor obtaining an absolute majority of votes amongst all elected councillors. With fewer votes, the PN group elected more councillors, and thanks to the perplexed system we are blessed with a PN Mayor and Council which the Mellieha absolute majority objected to.
jbusuttil
Sep 4th 2010, 09:57
Thank God for what happened you have one of the best councils on the island. Ask the people of Mellieha if they still object today.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 10:05
@ J Busuttil
I will not go into that,maybe it is so or maybe it isn't. My point wasn't that.
Randolph Peresso
Sep 4th 2010, 10:18
Were you of the same opinion in 1981?
Henry Fenech Azzopardi
Sep 4th 2010, 12:11
Charles
For once I strongly recommend that you make an exception in your district and vote for Robert Cutajar and continue on your labour preferences.
I do not live in Mellieha, but I am there every weekend Thursday to Monday and I could see the vast improvements from one week to the other.
This is a proven case that Councillors can go above politics and deliver for the good of their locality.
Do not get me wrong Charles I also have my preferences within the Labour camp and for example I would not hesitate to say that I would love to see your ex Tourisim Minister delivering for the good of my country.
I always say that the best way forward is to have the cream personnell from both political parties who are prepared to sacrifice their time to make our dear Malta better.
WE DO HAVE SUCH PEOPLE, THE LATEST WAS DR GUIDO DEMARCO WHO WAS RESPECTED AND LOVED BY ALL. THERE ARE OTHERS BUT I HATE TO MENTION SINCE THEY ARE STIL ALIVE AND KICKING. DR. GEORGE ABELA IS A CLOSE SECOND.
UNITY IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD. IF ONLY WE CAN FORGET WHAT DIVIDES US AND COMPROMISE.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Sep 4th 2010, 14:58
Agreed Henry,but once again that wasn't my point. My point is purely technical not political- the composition of our parliament and our local councils.
gcForte
Sep 4th 2010, 09:41
Mela hekk sewwa...........biex niehu job ghassa ma latrina, irrid niproduci kull certifikati tal kondotta tieghi, ta missieri, u tan nannu, u ser nirraprezenta lil pajjiz li noqod fih, xejn. Din ma hiex serjeta, qeghed nghejd ghal kull min jippoppa sidru min kull partit........Ghandu ikun hemm skrutinju totali, qabel ma wiehed johrog ghal dawn il karigi. Ghandu ikun hemm multi kbar ghal min jinqabad iqqarraq. Sirtna ix xejn mhu xejn.............
G. Mangion
Sep 4th 2010, 17:36
The best comment I have read so far ! Well said Mr Forte.
Mike Grech
Sep 4th 2010, 09:37
mmhhhh, seems that PBO might have been right after all, why did it take Labour all these years to ask him to leave? Will he be impeached from Deputy Mayor now. Keep fighting corruption PBO u hallihom jghidu!!!
w. sammut
Sep 4th 2010, 09:27
May I ask ... why such prominence givien to this article? Do you genuinely think it merited first page? You must be joking! Is there an ulterior motive? For balance' sake, perhaps?!!!
Michael Vella
Sep 4th 2010, 14:23
@ W. Sammut
Still living in the paranoid days of Alfred Sant, when the PL claimed that all news organisations (with the exception of Super 1 ofcourse) used to report news with some kind of ulterior sinister motive. Don't make us laugh Mr. Sammut.
J. Schembri
Sep 4th 2010, 08:58
Did the Labour Party do the right thing on this issue? My answer is "yes". What would have happened if Mr Camilleri did not want to resign from his party? I would say that we would have seen another Nikki Dimech saga.
Thanks to the courageous decisions of both parties we now have a clear message: "all politicians should be free of any shadow of doubt of any criminal behaviour'.
Having said that I still cannot fathom why the Fgura Mayor was thrown out by his party. On what criminal offense is he being charged?
P.Cassar
Sep 4th 2010, 08:57
UNLIKE THE SLIEMA FRACAS, IN GZIRA THINGS DEVELOPED AS THEY SHOULD. PROSIT
M Mifsud
Sep 4th 2010, 09:49
Mhux hekk! Tal-Labour kollox sew jaghmlu bhal fil-kaz tal-Fgura!
M.Pule'
Sep 4th 2010, 10:26
Of course, the Socialists do everything as it should be. Corruption & criminal allegations have two faces for the PL : if it happens to be a PN citizen, then they scream hell out of him but it happens to be a PL supporter, then an excuse is politely found. Yes, zero tolerance my foot!!!
History repeats itself.
R Grech
Sep 6th 2010, 12:33
@ M Pule' and M Mifsud: look who's talking! Maybe you forgot BWSC, and how differently John Dalli and Tonio Fenech got the different treatment? Xejnsew.com!
J.Xuereb
Sep 4th 2010, 08:36
Waw!! Clean politics, everyone is resigning nowadays. Is this a kind of Fashion? Is there anyone decent out there whom us Maltese can trust??
patrick zammit
Sep 4th 2010, 09:44
Yes, we can trust politicians. They never resign!
gcForte
Sep 4th 2010, 09:58
PROSIT ............patrick zammit..