Joe Mizzi stops asking parliamentary questions

Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi yesterday decided not to ask any more parliamentary questions, citing the impossibility of receiving meaningful answers to supplementary questions in the absence of a minister. In this case it was Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino.

The original question was about contracts given to Where’s Everybody from 2000 to date.

In his written reply, read in the House by Health Minister Joseph Cassar, Minister Pullicino said six contracts had been awarded to WE by direct order in keeping with established rules.

Mr Mizzi said he had serious doubts that any quotations had been sought before the direct orders, especially as the contracts had been awarded by various ministries to a company toeing the PN line.

When Minister Cassar repeatedly said he would refer Mr Mizzi’s queries to Minister Pullicino because he was in no position to answer them, Mr Mizzi said this was no way to conduct serious parliamentary business. He would therefore refrain from making any more PQs during the sitting.

In fact he did not stand up to make two other PQs in his own name.