Gonzi: we will beat corruption

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday pledged to win the fight against corruption, issuing a stern warning to public servants: “If you play with fire, you will get caught and you will be burnt”.

Thank you for responding to our call. We are going for it

“You can be a judge, a magistrate, a chairman or a clerk... with me there is no way out,” he said.

Without making direct reference to the Enemalta oil scandal, Dr Gonzi reiterated his willingness to grant a pardon to anyonewho helped expose the web of corruption, but said he would not “protect the spider”.

His comment could have been referring to a request by oil dealer George Farrugia to be granted a pardon for turning State witness, which will reportedly be denied by police.

Addressing a mass meeting in Mosta, Dr Gonzi pledged to impose harsher penalties for crimes related to corruption, enact the Whistleblowers Act and strengthen the Commission Against Corruption by giving it more tools, including its own investigator. The assets of those found guilty of corruption would be taken and placed in a fund for social projects, he added.

Dr Gonzi dedicated the rest of his speech to the claims made by Labour’s former deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia (see front page story) and to the PN’s electoral pledges about pensions, childcare and job creation.

In an impassioned call for his supporters not to give up, Dr Gonzi opened and closed the mass meeting by recalling a rallying cry he made some months back: “Let’s go for it!”

“Thank you for responding to our call. We are going for it,” he said.

Speaking before Dr Gonzi, deputy leader Simon Busuttil acknowledged the PN had made mistakes and that many people were hurt because they did not get a planning permit, were still waiting for an operation or were angry about the public transport service.

“But your vote is not a weapon with which you should punish an individual or a party. Your vote is the key to your future. Your country needs you,” he said, pledging to win back the people’s trust ­­­and “do even better” if entrusted with government again.