PN clears Cachia Caruana
Unanimous executive vote
Richard Cachia Caruana was yesterday cleared of all the charges levelled against him by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, after a five-hour executive meeting which heard, among others, the testimony of EU Commissioner John Dalli via teleconference.
The PN executive unanimously approved a motion proposed by MP Francis Zammit Dimech which proclaimed Dr Pullicino Orlando’s allegations as having failed to provide a case worthy of Mr Cachia Caruana’s defence.
In fact, the motion, which also expressed solidarity with Mr Cachia Caruana, was approved by a show of hands before he had his say.
Speaking at a press conference at 10.30 p.m., Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi applauded the democratic process followed by the PN, which met on Dr Pullicino Orlando’s demand to expel Mr Cachia Caruana on claims that he colluded with Labour and fomented unrest within the PN.
“The decision must be respected,” Dr Gonzi said, adding that not a shred of evidence successfully linked Mr Cachia Caruana to any of the charges.
The procedure followed yesterday, where last-minute arrangements were made for Mr Dalli to testify from Brussels, seem to have satisfied Dr Pullicino Orlando, who did not leave the meeting early as he had threatened he would do if the meeting turned into a “farce”. Instead, he left the meeting appearing breathless, telling journalists that he had said more than enough for one evening.
Only two witnesses at PN meeting
The meeting, which began at 5 p.m., saw Dr Pullicino Orlando elaborate on his claims and mentioning the sworn written testimonies of Labour MPs Karmenu Vella and Joe Mizzi, who earlier refused the PN’s invitation to appear before the executive to be cross-examined.
During his press conference, Dr Gonzi lashed out at the Labour MPs for not having the decency to attend, saying this was “typical Labour”. He also attacked Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat for persisting in personal attacks and claiming to have investigated his MPs’ accusations but not saying how he did so or what resulted.
Only two of Dr Pullicino Orlando’s five witnesses testified yesterday and both failed to corroborate his claims.
Dr Gonzi’s spokesman Gordon Pisani denied that Mr Cachia Caruana fomented unrest in the PN and instead turned the tables on Dr Pullicino Orlando, after being nudged by Transport Minister Austin Gatt to recount what happened in the last days of the 2008 election campaign.
Meanwhile, Mr Dalli spoke for almost half an hour focusing mainly on the state of the party but also bringing up the fact that his website had been hacked. Dr Gonzi agreed to meet him privately in the near future to discuss “information” that the EU Commissioner wanted to pass on.
Dr Gonzi said, however, that Mr Dalli did not support any of the claims made by Dr Pullicino Orlando and made no comments of “substance”.
Police Commissioner John Rizzo, who was also asked to testify by Dr Pullicino Orlando, refused to appear.
Sources said the meeting, which included tense exchanges between Dr Gatt and Dr Pullicino Orlando, was interrupted briefly after the latter stopped fellow backbencher Franco Debono from taking photos of him with his mobile phone – a claim Dr Debono denied.
The meeting was attended by former PN leader and President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami who upon entering the headquarters told journalists he had “absolutely no doubts” in Mr Cachia Caruana, who spent years as his right-hand man.
Dr Pullicino Orlando was only last week banned from contesting the next general election on the PN ticket for voting against Mr Cachia Caruana in Parliament, forcing him to resign from his post as Malta’s permanent representative in Brussels.
Asked what the future held for Dr Pullicino Orlando within the PN, Dr Gonzi coldly referred to the decision taken last week, saying it still stood.
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26 Comments
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Carmelo Sammut
Jul 19th 2012, 13:22
The best comedy award of the year se tirbah Prim din is sena.
GL Calleja
Jul 18th 2012, 16:44
What a surprise ' The PN clears Cachia Caruana".. Did anybody expect otherwise? How gullible do you think we are, that is standard procedure. Can you imagine if they did not?
GL Calleja
Jul 18th 2012, 20:15
Furthermore, this is a replica of when Dr Gonzi ran a political race when he was the only running without any opposition. Guess who won? As predicted Dr Gonzi......
Evarist Saliba
Jul 18th 2012, 16:08
What is central to the issue at hand is that JPO did not produce any evidence which supported his allegations against RCC.
All other comments are totally irrelevant and serve only to confuse the outcome in the hope that some of the mud that JPO has thrown will stick.
Emanuel. Vella.
Jul 18th 2012, 14:49
il-priministru dr.lawrence gonzi,bhala priministru,
li qed jirrapprezenta lil poplu malti u ghawdxi kollu,
homor u blu, fil-parlament malti l-ghola isttutitzzjoni
f'pajjizna,missu hu wkoll,irrispetta id-decizzjoni ta kif
ivvota il-poplu 'biex jidhol id-divorzju f'pajjizna',u mhux
jghamel'SPIN' u ivvota kontra ir-rieda tal-poplu malti u
ghawdxi kollu,il-priministru qieghed hemm fil-parlament
biex iservi lil-poplu,u mhux bil-maqlub,biex iservi lil partit
tieghu,hu il 'kuxjenza' tieghu.
Giov DeMartino
Jul 18th 2012, 15:18
The majority voted for divorce and that is what L. Gonzi gave them.
30 years ago the Maltese voted for a PN govt. and they had to be content with a labour regime.
So simple.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jul 18th 2012, 16:30
Gonzi gave us nothing - it was the majority in parliament that voted in afvour of divorce. Please stop repeating this silly spin that Gonzi ensured a majority in parliament- how could he do that? Does now read people's minds? Has not the recent surprise vote by JPO shown you what a silly statement you keep on repeating that Gonzi gave us a majority?
Henry S Pace
Jul 18th 2012, 14:06
' PN clears Cachia Caruana
Unanimous executive vote '
THE TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS. -- IS-SEWWA JIRBAH ZGUR.
James Camilleri
Jul 18th 2012, 13:43
In a way this “verdict” does not do justice to Mr Cachia Caruana. Before any evidence was heard the PM declared that this was a “frame up” and the President Emeritus maintained that he had no doubt as to Mr Cachia Caruana’s innocence. This gave an indication which way the verdict was going before anyone was heard. It was decided before it began. This I think was unfair for both the accuser and the accused. It led people to believe that whatever evidence was going to be brought forward was not going to be taken into account and/or believed. Now nationalists sycophants will believe what the party wants them to believe and labour toadies will believe the opposite. And those in the middle will remain will a lot of unanswered questions – again to the detriment of the accused.
John L Galea
Jul 18th 2012, 12:14
Was this a national trial or a PN comedy? It was obviously the latter so what value does it have outside the Dar Centrali?
Joseph Micallef
Jul 18th 2012, 11:55
J.P.O. now keep your word. RESIGN FROM THE P.N.
John L Galea
Jul 18th 2012, 12:15
Yes and pull down the GOnziPN dictatorship once and for all.
A. Mizzi
Jul 18th 2012, 11:12
Cachia Caruana seems to be the P.N.!
Giov DeMartino
Jul 18th 2012, 15:22
Are you the same Anthony Mizzi who has not yet answered my simple question? Do YOU, Anthony Mizzi, want to be one of those three HONOURABLE MP's? If youn are another Mizzi, kindly ignore my question. After all that is what the real Anthony Mizzi has been doing.
Mario Camilleri
Jul 18th 2012, 11:06
@Philip Hili,
Tgħid xejn għax illum qed isiru ħafna w ħafna agħar!!! Illum qed nisimgħu bil-ħniżrijiet li dejjem żammejtu mistura tul kemm il-PN ilu mwaqqaf. Is-sabiħa hija li mhux il-PL qiegħed jikxifhom, imma qed joħorġu għax għandkom il-gwerra ċivili bejnitkom.
Emanuel. Vella.
Jul 18th 2012, 14:54
well said,proset,proset hafna,
ghal mitt elf darba,sur mario camilleri.
M Farrugia
Jul 18th 2012, 10:49
iz-zerwg membri parlmentari forsi bezaw mill-kontra ezami li seghta sarilhom ghal dak li kellhom xi jghidu. Huwa importanti li l-parlament jiehu decizjoni drba ghal dejjem li jitnehha l-privilegg li deputat jghid li jrid fil-parlament kontra dik dak u l-ohra u hadt ma jista jiehu passi kontra tieghu jekk ma jirrepetix dak li jkun qal barra il-parlament.
John L Galea
Jul 18th 2012, 12:21
M Farrugia: Mela jekk qed tirreferi ghal-MP's tal-PL, dak li qalu fuq RCC qaluh barra u kullimkien u qlauh aktar minn darba u ffirmaw affidavit fuqu. Mela dak li qed tghid hu kollu bla sens u turi kemm int mizinformata. It-tieni hu li l-aqgha tal-PN mhi l-ebda istituzzjoni, allura ma kellhom l'ebda obbligu ulterjuri li jattendu, ladarba batulhom l-istqarrija/affidavit.
John Zammit
Jul 18th 2012, 10:40
This is a typical action by the Prime Minister. When he sees that he have no majority i the house he turns to the party's structure's to help him get out of the mess. Every body knows that the PN structures are run by the clique. What the country needs is political stability which will only be regained after a general election
Peter Murray
Jul 18th 2012, 10:05
Simply a circling of the wagons exercise
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jul 18th 2012, 16:39
I would have been extremely surprised had it not been.
Philip Hili
Jul 18th 2012, 09:31
"The Executive Committee was not a judicial institution " Din hi l-iskuza pwerili li gabu dan iz-zewg onorevoli ex Ministri fi zmien il-MLP, illum PL.!!!!
Ha! Ha! Ha1. Imma b'min tridu tidhqu?
Kemm ghamiltuh beccun il-poplu Malta?
Il-Kumitat tad-dixxiplina ( kellu xi isem iehor ta!! -tal-VIGILANZA?? ma nafx, imma nahseb li qieghed tifhem ghal xiex qieghed nirreferi) fi hdan il-MLP li huwa jew kien organu mgharuf minn kulhadd ghas-sentenzi li kien johrog fi hdan il-MLP ghax sa dak iz-zmien hekk kontu tissejhu u li kien immexxii mis-Sur Tommy Roberts (ex. impjegat tat-Telemalta) u kompost minn Nettu u l-iehor insejt ismu bhalissa, kien "judicial institution"??
Saqsu lil min kellu jidher quddiem, jekk kienx "a judicial institution" Mhux cert jekk is-sur Lino Spiter kienx deher quddiemu meta xi hadd gharef fi hdan il-MLP hareg ittra anonima kontra is-Sur Lino Spiteri lejliet il-votazzjoni ghall-elezzjoni tall-Leader, li l-kontestant l-iehor kien Dr. Alfred Sant.
Tafu min ma jafx b'dan? Il-votanti iz-zaghar, dawk li ser jivvutaw l-ewwel darba. Ghalehkk taqbadkom fernezija meta insemmulkom il-passat, li kien passat moqziez tal-MLP/PL.
TAFDAWHOMX!! Lanqas jekk tkun mghafgin taht amministrazzjoni Nazzjonalista, bhal ma............... Irrid nghix hekk milli mdamdam taht gvern laburista. Isawtuk fl-oppozizzjoni ahseb u ara ikollhom nitfa ta' ftit poter!!! Maaaa!! x'biza'.
Nispera li , is-Sur Eddy Privitera jghidilna xi haga fuq dan.
Grazzi
Clyde Cassar
Jul 18th 2012, 10:49
Dear Mr. Hili,
apparently you have suffered a lot under the Past Labour Government, but let us not dwell in the past anymore! There are things much worst that you forgot to mention, if you had someone buried in the Misbla for instance, like me, to mention just one.
What I cannot understand is that you mentioned that it is better to live in uncertainty than under the PL! I think that it is outrageous to say something like this on here.
Let me tell you something, what was bad then, is not justified to be right now. This is the problem of this country. A lot of people love to dwell in the past which is wrong. We have the future to look to, and the present, or gift to enjoy!
And like they always say, the past may not reflect the future.
I think that the country needs a breath of fresh air . Why don't we mention the good things that labour did? Like for instance social services perhaps? Pensions, Free University for everyone, Children Allowances, minimun wage, free housing..etc etc???
I am 42 years old now, and I read what happened in the past, but you have to read both sides of the stories to really know the facts, not one side only, because like this you can never learn the facts properly, and I think that there is no need to say more.
A. Mizzi
Jul 18th 2012, 11:14
Ha! Ha! Ha1. Imma b'min tridu tidhqu?
Kemm ghamiltuh beccun il-poplu Malta?
Meta lanqas RCC ma gie imsejjah biex jaghti ix-xiedha tieghu... u dan kien qieghed jilghab HOME ukoll, u mhux secret vote imma "show of hands" !
John L Galea
Jul 18th 2012, 12:17
@Philip Hili: Hanqa ta' hmar qatt ma telghet is-sema!!!
Philip Hili
Jul 19th 2012, 00:43
@ Clyde Cassar
Kindly note that I have replied to your comment but for some reasons did not appear on the blog.
But the most important thing in my comment was:- Stop boasting with Social Services!!! None of the Muscat Labour Party members are putting their hands in their pockets and pay the social services you mentioned from their own pocket. WE ARE PAYING FOR THE SOCIAL SERVICES YOU MENTIONED, when we pay taxes.
Meta xi pampalun mid-dar tal-hgieg idahhal idu fil-but u jhallas hu min butu, hemm tkun tista' titkellem kif tkelimt. Il-bqija, ghaqtawha tas-servizzi socjali qiskom qeghdin thalsuhom intom minn butkom
Please choose the reason of your report below: