The President of the PN Executive Committee, Marthese Portelli,  informed Richard Cachia Caruana this morning that he was no longer required to submit a list of his witnesses for tomorrow's meeting of the committee, once Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had not followed the agreed procedure to submit his detailed list of accusations and to link his list of witnesses with each allegation he had made.

Dr Marthese Portelli.

In her letter, published by the PN this afternoon, Dr Portelli told Mr Cachia Caruana that since Dr Pullicino Orlando had not followed the agreed procedure, he was no longer required to send his own list of defence witnesses by noon today, but his right to present his defence was unchanged.

Dr Portelli also wrote to the witnesses mentioned by Dr Pullicino Orlando on Friday, formally inviting them to give their evidence at tomorrow's meeting. They were asked to confirm their participation by Noon tomorrow.

The witnesses on Dr Pullicino Orlando's list are Labour MPs Karmenu Vella and Joe Mizzi, European Commissioner John Dalli, Police Commissioner John Rizzo and the prime minister's head of communications, Gordon Pisani.

It is unclear whether Labour MPs Karmenu Vella and Mr Mizzi will attend, although it is unlikely. Mr Vella has published a sworn declaration about information he had about Mr Cachia Caruana (related to Air Malta) while Mr Mizzi was interviewed on One TV last week and subsequently said he did not intend to involve himself further in the PN's internal disputes.

Police Commissioner John Rizzo told PBS he did not wish to involve himself in politics.

Dr Pullicino Orlando told timesofmalta.com that Mr  Dalli told him over the weekend he would try to make it for the committee's meeting.

The prime minister's communications chief, Gordon Pisani in a statement last week said that while he was ready to give evidence, he had no information which could in one way or another link Mr Cachia Caruana to the claims being made by Dr Pullicino Orlando. 

Dr Pullicino Orlando is calling on the Executive to expel Mr Richard Cachia Caruana for allegedly colluding with the PL between 1996 and 1998.

Earlier today, Dr Portelli  blamed Dr Pullicino Orlando for the delay in summoning the witnesses..

"Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando did not stick to his end of the agreement. Had he adhered to the agreed procedure the witnesses he identified could have been notified on Friday."

Dr Portelli, insisted though, that tomorrow's meeting would still take place.

PULLICINO ORLANDO SAYS HE STUCK TO PROCEDURE

In a reaction, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he adhered to everything that was agreed to.

"On Friday (in a letter to Dr Portelli) I linked the witnesses to the accusations and, when asked for more information on the testimony of the witnesses, I started fleshing out the case by quoting what Labour MP Joe Mizzi said."

Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

However, Dr Pullicino Orlando said, after Dr Portelli accused him of acting in bad faith, he stopped giving more details and the witnesses would give their details before the Executive.

"I cannot be blamed for any delay," he said, adding that originally he had proposed two sittings to consider the case, one for the presentation of witnesses and the second for Mr Cachia Caruana to present his defence.

However it was decided that one sitting would be held.

Dr Pullicino Orlando said that over the weekend he spoke to John Dalli who confirmed he would be doing his utmost to attend tomorrow's hearing.

"I hope the outcome of the meeting is not a fait accompli," Dr Pullicino Orlando said, adding that the prime minister had prejudiced the case by saying yesterday that he saw the ingredients of a frame-up against Mr Cachia Caruana.

The Nationalist MP warned that he would not enter PN headquarters if the doors were guarded by the same people who were there for the last meeting.