PN 'acted responsibly' in Sliema

It was not true that the Sliema council had become a ministers' playground from where they launched projects of personal benefit, PN executive council president Marthese Portelli said this afternoon.

Addressing a news conference in Bisazza Street in reaction to another conference held this morning by the Labour Party, Dr Portelli denied that the Sliema council had acted in a partisan manner.

Although Nationalist Sliema mayor, Joanna Gonzi, was not present for the conference, independent councillors Cyrus Engerer and Sandra Camilleri were present to listen in and have their say. Both Mr Engerer and Ms Camilleri used to be Nationalist councillors.

Dr Portelli said that Dr Joseph Muscat forgot to same in his news conference this morning, that when Nationalist councillor Nikki Dimech was accused of wrong doing, PN had done everything possible, and even fired him while Labout did not even vote in the motion of no confidence, abdicating its responsibility. This was shameful behaviour.

When journalists representing the PL media asked whether councillor Camilleri had been treated properly by PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier, Dr Portelli said several meetings had been held and she felt that Ms Camilleri was treated fairly.

When Mr Engerer pointed out to Dr Portelli that a Nationalist councillor had tried to get the mayor ousted, Dr Portelli said she did not think this was the case. She denied that the mayor was a failure in any way.

Asked about charges PN Sliema candidate Silvio Zammit had faced, Dr Portelli said that one should not go into personal matters but leave it up to the people to give their mandate.