PN councillor resigns following investigation
The Nationalist Party has accepted Frans Catania's resignation from PN councillor at Zabbar, the party said in a statement.
Mr Catania has also resigned from the council.
The PN said that Mr Catania resigned after he was yesterday investigated by the police about practices at his job with Transport Malta. It said that its representatives had to have the highest ethical standards.
Mr Catania was mentioned recently in connection with alleged bribery related to licences.
His place on the council is expected to be taken by Kevin Plumpton, the only non-elected PN candidate on that council, which has a Labour majority.
The PN over the past few months also suffered the resignation of Nationalist Mayors Nikki Dimech (Sliema) Carmelo Saliba (Zebbug, Gozo) Elizabeth Vella (Sta Venera), the deputy Mayor of Gharb, as well as Sliema councillor Sandra Camilleri (who had disagreements with the party but no issues of irregularities).
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C Galea
Oct 28th 2010, 01:59
Interesting to read this kind of statement, "had to have the highest ethical standards" Is this ever possible in a place so small like Malta?
Maria Vella
Oct 27th 2010, 11:30
Our local councils have an epidemic of corruption these days. It is a shame that many of those who askt to be representitives of the people are so unable to have decent ethics.
Saviour Grech
Oct 27th 2010, 11:16
And this is only the tip of the iceberg. There are more Mayors and councillors waiting for the guillotine. This is not a question of PN versus PL on who is corrupt the most. What makes a person honourable for stepping down from his post when we seem to forget that the reason for his action is either corruption, misuse of public funds or not adhering to the local council’s regulations. The best reform would have been to do away with politics when it comes to local councils. I shall never vote again for any candidates in the Marsascala local council elections. In this locality the council is more for the business sector rather than the residents.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Oct 27th 2010, 09:42
Can someone enlighten me how independent non-political councils can ensure no corruption?
Political parties serve to unite a group of councillors on a common electoral programme, and also serve as a check on their councillors that they are performing their work.
If all councillors are independent, a council will probably not last more than a year and will have no common policy. Comments suggesting that this corruption is because of the involvement of political parties are utterly stupid! As if a political party wants its members to be dishonest and corrupt!
One last observation: each PN councillor which was being investigated has resigned and been brought to light. PL, which has been shouting corruption for years, has hidden the wrong-doings of its councillors and they are still serving as 'independent' councillors.
Paul Sammut
Oct 27th 2010, 11:25
Mark Anthony Sammut we don't need local councils in tiny Malta. As if we are the biggest continent in the world! Corruption has gone down to lower levels since the local councils were introduced. They should be done away with. They are costing money for the mayors and now also the counselors apart from a mobile for every counselor, traveling to other countries under the guise of twinning and a lot of other expenses which we could do without. Would The Times please conduct the next poll on whether the people want the local councils to remain or be scrapped?
Emanuel Farrugia
Oct 27th 2010, 09:37
Qeghdin jidhru s-successi fil-Kunsilli Lokali ta' Malta. L-importanti li nuru kemm ahna taparsi nhobbu 'l lokal, fejn taf. L-importanti li naghmlu kollox kif jghid il-partit u naghmlu pjaciri lil hbieb tal-hbieb ghax dik il-kultura tal-Kunsilli Lokali ta' Malta.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
N. Pace
Oct 27th 2010, 12:05
Disgruntled former Executive Secretary????
Emanuel Farrugia
Oct 27th 2010, 13:05
Veru nitpaxxa b'nies bhalek. Success fuq success qeghdin jaghmlu.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Charles J. Buttigieg
Oct 27th 2010, 09:28
As if the PN had a choice other than expelling them from the party. An inevitable exercise.
c camilleri
Oct 26th 2010, 21:47
and yet again another PN counsellor allegedly involved in something illegal. and yet this party is still in power. how can the corruption perception of malta decrease? the PN is infested by such people and yet they are still running around.
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 26th 2010, 21:20
Sliema councilor Sandra Camilleri resigned from the P.N. with an impeccable record because she is truly a woman of Principles and a woman of substance and should not be included in the same list as the other councilors that resigned from the P.N. on their or PBO's request in connection with police investigations.
Michael Fenech
Oct 26th 2010, 21:16
Hekk issejjah is-serjeta!
Min jizbalja jirrizenja! Mhux jintalab jirrizenja mill-partit u jibqa hemm mohbi taparsi indipendenti. Ikun f'isem il-Labour 'undercover'.
Il-maturita' issejjah li meta wiehed jizbalja, jammetti.
Hafna paroli mill-kamp Laburista imbaghad ma kellhomx kuragg inehhu lil min mar ikisser propjeta pubblika jew joqghodu jaghtu spazju lil Dimech. Uejja!
John Frendo
Oct 27th 2010, 11:27
Michael Fenech jekk ma tafx Partit politiku ma jistax jordna lil kunsilier jirrizenja ghax dak tellghu l-poplu. Jekk irid kunsillier jibqa fil-kunsill indipendenti u hadd ma jista jghidlu xejn.
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Oct 26th 2010, 20:27
about time he resigned!
Andre Chetcuti
Oct 26th 2010, 20:16
This shows the difference between PN and PL
VV Bartolo
Oct 26th 2010, 19:44
so Dr Alfred Sant was right all way long ... local councils should be non political!
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 26th 2010, 21:04
And Dr. Sant was not alone, even Archbishop Mercieca came out about local councils being non political, but Holier than thou the than Leader of the N.P. Dr. Fenech Adami had other plans.....
Joseph calleja
Oct 26th 2010, 21:46
Hit the nail right on the head....But what makes you think the Party wants to give up control of local councils? Politics is dirty business. I like your idea.
Mark Anthony Sammut
Oct 27th 2010, 09:49
Who makes you think non-political councils will be free of corruption?
VV Bartolo
Oct 27th 2010, 10:13
@ mr mark anthony sammut
no one makes me think that non political local councils are corruption free but at least political parties and some of their bunch of puppets on a string allieds, will stop throwing mud at each other and carry on with their duties!!
M. Camilleri
Oct 26th 2010, 19:08
Well done Mr. Catania. You did the right thing. Unlike Mr. Dimech and Ms Camilleri from the Sliema Council who still occupy their seats when they were elected on the PN ticket. They should take your example and resign immediately so that their seat can be taken by other PN councillors. Again, well done for doing the right thing.
Marcel Dingli
Oct 26th 2010, 20:04
What about the compensation if found NOT GUILTY ?? i stand by Mr Dimech and Ms Camilleri. Min hu pupazz jaghmel bhas sur catania.
Anthony Mizzi
Oct 26th 2010, 21:01
Well done Mr. Camilleri after he was yesterday investigated by the police about practices at his job with Transport Malta ? Or maybe a relation?
As the saying in Maltese goes "Ma min rajtek, xebbahtek!"
Asfor Ms. Camilleri from the Sliema council, her record is impecable, she is a woman of character and principles and she should definitely stay on the Sliema Council, putting the interests of the residents above party level!
Andrew B. Gatt
Oct 26th 2010, 21:19
Well done ? Well done, for what ?
Sandro Galea
Oct 26th 2010, 18:59
What a difference between the PN and the MLP. Compare this resignation to the Attard MLP saga. In the PN case, one of its counsellors is being investigated for impropriety in public office and the counsellor resigns. In the MLP Attard scandal, the party sought to cover up until the media exposed what the party tried to hide. And this story is not over yet.
E. Azzopardi
Oct 26th 2010, 18:57
We have been told that many councils are funtioning properly. Of course there are.
But we cannot now not be very worried about what is happening. It seems that lately,every so often we hear of these alleged accusations and resignations.
We cannot just state that the others are functioning properly. Good for them. But they ALL must function properly.
Steven Farrugia
Oct 26th 2010, 18:56
The Highest ethical standards demand that people who occupy a public position and are being investigated for possible breaches of the law should resign with immediate effect. The Nationalist Party adheres to such standards but on the other hand the Labour Party do not. Labour Councillors resign from the party but mantain their position within the Council. If the Labour Party really has a zero tolerance to corruption policy then they would have asked for the resignation of those councillors elected in its name in the different localities. However what's new? This is the same party which uses its media as a platform for a person who admitted to demanding money from another person in order to give him a job with the council.
jbusuttil
Oct 26th 2010, 18:55
Don't you think that this article is much more interesting than the above article. It seems that these kind of achievements are not read anymore on the Times of Malta.com.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-24/germany-malta-boost-economies-as-europe-lags-lisbon-council-study-shows.html
Bice Caruana
Oct 26th 2010, 18:50
Bil-pinna ghazluhom il-kandidati tal-PN! Dakl li jifrilek meta thaddan politka ta' "hokkli darhi u nhokk tieghek". Next! Min Imissu?
victor vella
Oct 26th 2010, 20:05
Mela insejtu lill dak li seraq palm top waqt il gurament? Frans ghamilt li ghamilt xorta hrigt ta ragel meta irrezenjajt minn kollox.Jekk hadt riskju inti hadtu u l irgiel jerfaw ir responsabilita ta dak li jghamlu.Hbieb konna u mijja nibqaw.
patrick zammit
Oct 26th 2010, 18:46
"The PN said that its representatives had to have the highest ethical standards and morals."
Does this also apply to the Big Shots? Just asking!
r.borg
Oct 26th 2010, 18:25
kemm il PN u kemm l MLP ......
Mid dehra it tnejn imcappsin b xeba nies ta livell baxx fil kunsilli u issa qet johrog aktar fil berah,,,,..ftit huma in nies denji u responsabli mit tmexxija tal lokal taghhom....bil mod il mod ha jintilef is sugu kollu tal kunsilli u inqas nies imorru jivvotaw fl elezzjonijiet
N Zahra
Oct 26th 2010, 19:52
Yes you're perfectly right. Its also the main factor why people of a higher moral and mental calibre refuse to get involved. But at least this seems to be a shakeup of sorts that the government is undertaking which is definitely a step in the right direction. So well done on that!
Gerad Cassar
Oct 26th 2010, 18:24
"The P.N. Councillors have to have the highest ethical standard and morals." We all agree. But there has been so many not up to standard and these were the small fry and quickly move from their post. It reflects badly on the whole group since they seem not to have been vetted and anyone was accepted.
Who knows whether the same has happened in the higher post, but it is dangerous to take action at that level.
A very simple remark, pobably the lower group reflects the higher one but these may be strong to remove them even from among the elected group and it will harm the so called pure and tidy.
Here one has to remember the case of the Voice of the Medterranean just a typical other group
Joseph Calleja
Oct 26th 2010, 18:21
Another one bites the dust. But yet some of the MEPS still refuse to show their financial statement and get away with it. So they are breaking the law outright, in the open and in defiance of the law but for them it is OK, it is very ethical. Where is the justice or maybe like everything else they are hoping it will go away. PN-PL what difference does it make, the law is there for everybody including Meps and MPs etc. Next time watch who you vote for.
l fenech
Oct 26th 2010, 18:21
Kemm fadlilkom xi tajru.
I M Dingli
Oct 26th 2010, 18:17
@ Arthur Mallia
It’s a pity that these resignations do not occur amongst the high ranks, on the other hand, they are given a new job with the same responsibility or even more.
If high ranking positions come with a lot of perks and salaries, why doesn't the responsibility for actions taken follow suit? Logic dictates otherwise.
Charles Micallef
Oct 26th 2010, 18:11
Oh not another one................!
mpace2
Oct 26th 2010, 18:07
Here we go again its looks Flintstones story these soap opera resignations and till the next council elections will hardly finish with half dozen wondering around and whom is next???
M.Pisani
Oct 26th 2010, 18:01
Hekk titlob is-serjeta'!
Justin Bartolo
Oct 26th 2010, 18:15
U ejja come on man..... Bwahahahahahaha......LOll
Arthur Mallia
Oct 26th 2010, 17:59
As usual the PN leads the way in honest and transparent administration, while the Labour Party only pays lip service to transparency and accountability.
l fenech
Oct 26th 2010, 18:23
Imma dan l-artiklu fuq il-PN qieghed imma biex tikkonslaw iddahhlu il-PL.
J. Mifsud
Oct 26th 2010, 18:24
Man Oh Man, I almost choked reading your blog..........this must be the joke of the year.
Thanks man, how I needed this after yesterday's charade in parliament.
Andrew Cumbo
Oct 26th 2010, 18:26
Mr. A. Malia
You made me laugh with your comment. PN leads the way in honest and transparent way?? Are you sure from what you are saying. So why the PN does not want that the BWSC be investigated as it should be investigated by the PAC? Also can you tell any project commissioned by PN government that there was no trace of corruption please?
Robert Azzopardi
Oct 26th 2010, 18:30
PBO???
marti saliba
Oct 26th 2010, 19:12
Kemm int ghami jahasra ! Int u kull min jiraguna bhalek miz zewg nahat. Qabel ma il kunsili ikunu indipendenti jien qatt ma ivotajt u laqas nivota. Bil politika fin nofs ikollok nies inkompitenti ghax mux kemm jafu imma lill minn jafu.
G Bonello
Oct 26th 2010, 19:50
Andrew Cumbo .... "Also can you tell any project commissioned by PN government that there was no trace of corruption please?"
Well, if one watches only the Super One media, the answer is NIL, obviously.
S DEGABRIELE
Oct 26th 2010, 19:59
Kieku inkun jien li qed nigi investigat fuq kurruzjoni u ma ikolli xejn x'nahbi ma nirrezenjax ghax f'qalbi jien ikun naf li jien innocenti
Mela kif nahsiba jien min jirrezenja ghax ikollu il faham miblul..
Prof P. Sant Cassia
Oct 26th 2010, 20:24
Dear Mr Mallia,
I was intrigued by your comment. Do you mean to say that this particular Political Party "leads the way" in transparent dishonesty or dishonest transparency?
When, in your view, does a party excel in "leading the way in honest and transparent administration" ? When most councillors are forced to resign? That would be the logical conclusion of your statement and make them leaders in transparent dishonesty. I commend you for your Panglossian optimism.
Another way to interpret your statement is you are not an optimist but a cynic: that you much prefer a political party that admits wrong-doing rather than one that conceals it: "All political parties are corrupt, and I prefer the one that flaunts it rather than one that is hypocritical". Not bad. That would make you a cynical optimist. If so, I commend you doubly for your Panglossian optimism.