Dalli wants to testify but cannot today
EU Health Commissioner John Dalli will not testify today in the case against ousted ambassador to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana as the PN’s executive reconvenes.
Mr Dalli said he had a number of appointments in Brussels that had long been scheduled.
“I want to testify but I cannot be at the beck and call of the party’s executive. My diary is public and it is impossible for me to testify tomorrow (today),” he said, adding that the PN executive meetings were normally held on Thursdays not Tuesdays.
Mr Dalli only received the PN executive’s formal notification to testify yesterday afternoon, along with the other four witnesses identified by PN backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. The MP has asked the PN to expel Mr Cachia Caruana, a longtime PN strategist.
PN executive president Marthese Portelli said the delay was a result of Dr Pullicino Orlando not adhering to agreed procedure.
Dr Pullicino Orlando rebutted: “I only stopped fleshing out the details of the case after Dr Portelli accused me of bad faith over the weekend.”
The five witnesses are Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Mr Dalli, MPs and former Labour ministers Karmenu Vella and Joe Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s communications coordinator Gordon Pisani.
It is likely that only Mr Pisani will appear today. He has said Dr Pullicino Orlando’s accusations have no basis. The MP will most likely present sworn declarations from Mr Vella and Mr Mizzi.
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43 Comments
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Henry S Pace
Jul 17th 2012, 16:04
' Mr Dalli said he had a number of appointments in Brussels that had long been scheduled. '
GIVEN THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT , THIS SEEMS TO BE A STRATEGY TO PROLONG THIS SITUATION.
HE COULD HAVE COME ON AN EXECUTIVE PLANE APPEAR BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND RETURN BAKE IN A MATTER OF HOURS.
Joe Tabone
Jul 17th 2012, 15:13
I'm sure that if Hon J Dalli, wanted to give us his opinion on this issue he would find ways and means to do so. Afterall he has done it before!
A Mifsud
Jul 17th 2012, 13:31
I knew many days ago that Mr Dalli was on the witness list for today's meeting....does he really want us to believe that he only found out yesterday.
Martin Saliba
Jul 17th 2012, 14:27
Taf taqra sur Mifsud ?
Mr Dalli only received the PN executive’s formal notification to testify yesterday afternoon
If one of nephews or nieces is going to get married do you just turn up at the wedding just because you're their uncle or do you wait for a formal invitation be it by post or by mouth ?
j brincat
Jul 17th 2012, 13:21
What goes round comes around.
The boomerang has turned the full circle and bumped in the PN with such a force that it sent it into an utter state of confusion!
The confusion is such that no one can possibly predict what would happen next!
(jb)
R. Borg
Jul 17th 2012, 12:48
For haven sake, do these people thing that we the people in the street cannot count from one to ten. GonziPN should call as soon as possible the general election so the from the opposition than rebuild the party.
A Mifsud
Jul 17th 2012, 13:36
Good thing that you can count, cause you can barely write!
Ronald Zammit
Jul 17th 2012, 12:37
Ghaliex dan il PANIKU kollhu li hakem lil GONZIPN ?!!! Bilfors li ghandhom min xiex jibzaw u jisthu(jekk jafu!!)
X'ghandhu xi jajd John Dalli li ta Gonzipn qed jitwerwru minnhu? Ghaliex fil kas ta dan RCC GonziPN qed jimxu differenti milli imxew fil kas ta John Dalli? Ta' Dalli Gonzi ma kien semma l'ebda "Frame up"!! Tider li il borma ta'Gonzipn imhawra jew ahjar imnawra sew u hirga riha tintenn seba pesti!!!!!! Iz-Zejt ftit ftit beda tiela fil wicc u Gonzipn jinsabu f'tarf l'irdum!! Fuq l'affari ta' L'Arriva , Austin Gatt kien qal li zmien il Buzullotti kein spicca,,imma fi hdan Gonzipn ..Il Buzullotti aggravaw bil kbir!!! L'aqwa li flimkien kollox huwa possibli u li is-sewwa jirbah zgur!!!! ( sic)
John L Galea
Jul 17th 2012, 12:27
What a coincidence the executive meeting was changed to a Tuesday from Thursday....and the mystery continues!!!
jesmond zammit
Jul 17th 2012, 12:20
he can always send a recorded video.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jul 17th 2012, 11:49
Maltese citizens careful. A bomb is about to explode! 'Id-dnub ma jorqodx!' Evil punishes itself, one day or another!
Angus Black
Jul 17th 2012, 12:42
No wiser words have been spoken, Joseph Grech Attard.
That is why the sins of the 70s and 80s keep resurfacing, not forgotten and not forgiven. It is for this reason that the Labour Party is still discounting the 'sentence' from the benches of the Opposition for the last 23 years. Muscat's Labour Party is just an extension of the Mintoffian-KMB regimes which enthralled Malta during the Socialist 'golden era'.
Spot on, JGA.
F. Scicluna
Jul 17th 2012, 11:34
This is a frame up so HE Dalli will not be able to testify. Do you thik this is fair Mr leader of GONZIPN?
Mr Daniel Jones
Jul 17th 2012, 11:05
Skype anyone?
Anthony Scicluna
Jul 17th 2012, 11:41
Haa haa haa! Good one (and true)
John L Galea
Jul 17th 2012, 12:27
Good one
john muscat
Jul 17th 2012, 10:57
Dear Mr. Dalli, the change of day that the executive meeting is for today and not on Thursday is being manipulated so that you cannot attend. Democracy at it's worst. It seems that the executive is afraid of Mr. Dalli's attendance.
Angus Black
Jul 17th 2012, 12:48
If that were the case, John Muscat, Mr Dalli could always have signed an affidavit like Vella and Mizzi did. No one is preventing Mr Dalli from testifying and if his testimony is so critical for JPO, he can always be heard later.
When you comment on matters pertaining to the Nationalist Party, don't use the Labour Party's yardstick.
m. borg (slm)
Jul 17th 2012, 13:37
Angus does it occure to you tha Dalli has a lot to say that an affidavit is not enough.
gonzipn are a bunch of undemocratic, totalitarian cowards much more nothing less.
John Cole Smith
Jul 17th 2012, 15:54
...... also there is technology called the Internet?, or haven't they discovered it in Brussels?, there is no real need to attend physically or probably its a case, where , ' Dont get me involved, I am contesting the next elections!'
Ms.D. Galea
Jul 17th 2012, 10:49
What about video-conferencing ?
Joseph Bugeja
Jul 17th 2012, 11:40
When you want to put spokes in the wheels that's preposterous!!!
R Mallia
Jul 17th 2012, 10:40
The are scared of Mr.Dalli, there are things today called Video Conferencing dear PN.
Mr David Ganado
Jul 17th 2012, 10:52
Can't you read?
"Mr Dalli said he had a number of appointments in Brussels that had long been scheduled"
How could he have a Video Conference if he is otherwise occupied?
C. Bonnici
Jul 17th 2012, 11:19
@ Ganado: I think that if one can write, one can read. That said, Dalli could record his testimony then, no?
Mr David Ganado
Jul 17th 2012, 14:45
@ Bonnici: Excuse me, but with that comment R. Mallia didn't seem to understand what he read. Anyway, sure Dalli could have recorded his testimony or even written an affidavit, and it would not have taken much of his time; but maybe he actually can't be bothered about the whole affair, hence the brush off.
John Borg
Jul 17th 2012, 10:31
Why is the Nationalist Party doing its utmost to prevent John Dalli from testifying?
Elementary my dear friends. John Dalli was himself a victim of a frame up and he has first hand experience about what goes on at l-Istamperija and who calls the shots there. They might continue to try to gag Mr Dalli but, I am sure, that one day he will have his say
Philip Hili
Jul 17th 2012, 10:16
Nahseb li l-polpu Nazzjonalista jixtieq jisma' x'xhieda tal-Kummisjarju ta' l-EU!!!!!
Eddy Privitera
Jul 17th 2012, 10:10
IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT RE-SCHEDULING THE EXECUTIVE MEETING FROM THURSDAY TO TODAY, WAS MADE IN ORDER TO MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE , FOR COMMISSIONER JOHN DALLI TO TESTIFY !
REMEMBER, THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO REFUSED TO ACCEPT JOHN DALLI AS A WITNESS WHEN THE OPPOSITION'S MOTION ON RCC WAS BEING HEARD INFRONT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE !
WHY IS GONZIPN SO SCARED OF JOHN DALLI ??????????
John Caruana
Jul 17th 2012, 10:06
Jistghu jghidulna x'inhi r-raguni li se nlaqghu l-esekkuttiv jumejn qabel? Normalment meta tinbidel il-gurnata ta xi laqgha din tigi trasferita ghal data iktar tard mhx jumejn qabel. Allura bilfors tahseb hazin li kollox ippjanat biex JD ma jkunx jista jattendi.
m. borg (slm)
Jul 17th 2012, 13:38
Because some of them have holidays to go to.
M Grima
Jul 17th 2012, 10:03
He can always go for an affidavit of video conferencing if the PN are doing their best to avoid his testimony.
Edgar Apap
Jul 17th 2012, 09:57
After What Gonzi Pn Did To Commissioner John Dalli In The Past Nothing Will Surprise Him In Any Way Shape Or Form . JPO Leave The Nationalist Party , Go To The Presedent And Inform Him Accoridingly. Gonzi Will Have No Other Option But To Call An Election And Fade Away . The People Will Have Thier Say Then .
Mark Amaira
Jul 17th 2012, 09:56
Din ix-xiedha ijha l-iktar importanti jekk il P.N ghal xi raguni ma jhalix lill John Dalli jixehd allura ikun falla
D M Grech
Jul 17th 2012, 09:52
Teleconferencing perhaps?
R Axisa
Jul 17th 2012, 09:52
the PN executive meetings were normally held on Thursdays not Tuesdays - some food for thought!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jul 17th 2012, 12:11
Do you really need food to think this one out?
Charles Micallef
Jul 17th 2012, 09:48
Let us hope that the PN Executive give John Dalli time to testify and will not come up with some silly excuse that they cannot delay their hearing.
Mr Michael Debono
Jul 17th 2012, 10:45
Who is behind the transfer of dates. Who is in command? The P.N. doing everything to save the face of RCC.
As for the President. George Abela is on leave and there is an acting president a humble servant of the P.N who probably will do what's good for the P.N. as suggested by Gonzi. Everything was calculated in advance.
Edward Gatt
Jul 17th 2012, 13:13
@ Michael Debono
Do you think it was the PN who suggested to President George Abela to go to Peru?
Franco Attard Trevisan
Jul 17th 2012, 09:48
Why can't the case be re-scheduled... It doesn't make any sense to leave out a ' star' witness does it? that is if the PN really wants to be impartial and is eager to see that the truth is really exposed.... just a thought
j brincat
Jul 17th 2012, 09:45
Is it a coincidence that the Executive is meeting on a Tuesday and not Thursday when according to Mr Dalli they are 'normally' held'?
So the charade continues!
(jb)
vella m
Jul 17th 2012, 09:28
Food for thought!
Please choose the reason of your report below: