An injunction request filed by Marsascala Sports Club against a Land Department order evicting it from the old national pool complex in Żonqor has been withdrawn as both sides are very close to an agreement.
The injunction, which had been provisionally upheld by a judge, was withdrawn when the two parties were supposed to file their submissions for the court to take a final decision.
Sources said the club opted to drop its case about a fortnight ago saying that talks with the government were at “a very advanced” stage.
Asked by this newspaper if a final agreement had been reached, neither side was willing to divulge any details. Sources said that the club was bound by secrecy.
The dispute revolves about the commitment made last year by the government to grant new facilities to the club to replace the old National Pool, which is to be integrated into the university campus planned for the area.
The university project is piloted by Sadeen Education Investment Limited. The injunction was filed after the club felt it was being “taken for a ride” by the government.
It is grossly unfair for the government to lie outright about me
A Prime Minister’s spokesman reiterated the government’s commitment to provide “alternate facilities” but pointed a finger at Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi, who is also the Marsascala SC lawyer.
“Our appeal is for Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi to stop playing political games to the detriment of the Marsascala community by trying to scupper positive developments which will see Marsascala SC being given better facilities,” he added.
OPM sources told The Sunday Times of Malta that one of the conditions set by the government to start negotiations, following the injunction provisionally upheld by a court, was for the Dr Azzopardi not be present. “As a matter of fact club officials were forced to seek legal advice from Dr Azzopardi over the phone,” they added.
Another condition was for the club not to divulge any details whatsoever on these talks, as otherwise the proposed agreement would be null. Asked to confirm or deny this, the OPM spokesman did not answer. Though none of the club officials wanted to go into details, Marsascala SC treasurer Melchoir Busuttil told this newspaper that talks were ongoing. Asked if they had regretted their decision to appoint Dr Azzopardi as their lawyer he said that they were “very satisfied” with his service.
On his part, the Opposition MP deemed the OPM’s remarks about him as utterly shameful and disgusting while noting that he had strictly followed his client’s instructions.
“Contrary to what the government told you, a lawyer, myself included, does not play games, less so political ones,” he said.
The MP questioned whether the government was resorting to the “old tactic last used by the Mintoff administration between 1981 and 1984 to try to intimidate and slander any lawyers taking up a brief against it”.
“The only silver lining for me in this is that I am in privileged company when I remember the names of the lawyers who were targeted by the Socialist Government of the 1980s simply for exercising their legal profession in cases against the government of the day. It is grossly unfair for the government to lie outright about me when it knows that in order to defend myself and set the record straight I would have to breach professional secrecy, which is inconceivable for me. These tactics befit third world dictatorships, not a supposedly European democracy,” Dr Azzopardi said.