Nationalist MP Joseph Cassar resigned from the shadow Cabinet yesterday following reports that a businessman had paid for construction works at his family home.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said he had accepted Dr Cassar’s resignation after it had become clear he could no longer continue in his role as the Opposition’s culture spokesman.
According to a report in Malta Today, Dr Cassar allegedly allowed controversial businessman Joe Gaffarena to pay €8,150 for works carried out at his Dingli farmhouse in 2011. These, the paper said, included the construction of a staircase and garden landscaping, with payment to Devlands Ltd taking the form of barter for fuel at Mr Gaffarena’s fuel pumping station. Dr Cassar was allegedly also given a car by Mr Gaffarena for his daughter while he was health minister.
In a statement, Dr Busuttil said he had met Dr Cassar, who would seek legal advice on the matter.
Earlier, in an interview on Radio 101, Dr Busuttil had said Dr Cassar had made “an error of judgement” and he would listen to what the MP had to say “before deciding on what decision to make”.
In a statement, Dr Cassar said he had allowed “an unscrupulous person” to take advantage of him. The way this person was manipulating events happening three years ago, in collusion with the Labour Party, in an attempt to cover up his and the PL’s wrongdoing, was aimed at distracting the public, he said.
Despite this, Dr Cassar insisted the PN had always fought to raise the standards of political behaviour on the island and he would face up to his responsibilities.
“The fact that this happened some three years ago is no excuse and I apologise unreservedly to the electorate for my error of judgement,” he said.
I apologise unreservedly to the electorate for my error of judgement
Referring to the ministerial code of ethics, Dr Cassar said he had not been given any gifts because he had donated €1,000 to the PN as a form of payment for the car.
He categorically denied having ever known about or consented to any payments to be made on his behalf by Mr Gaffarena for any works.
He said he would be seeking legal advice.
Dr Cassar’s resignation yesterday came on the back of a challenge by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Speaking at a political activity in Valletta, Dr Muscat said Dr Busuttil would have to prove he was not a man of double standards and take action against Dr Cassar.
“This is a big test for Dr Busuttil. Will he prove to be Mr Double Standards?” Dr Muscat said.
Dr Cassar remains a member of the PN and a member of Parliament.
Timeline of alleged bad dealings
• 2012: Joe Cassar, then minister for health, is allegedly given a car for his daughter by Joe Gaffarena, with Dr Cassar donating €1,000 to the PN as payment.
• December 2014: Mr Gaffarena allegedly pays €8,150 for construction works carried out at Dr Cassar’s home in Dingli.
• October 27: Reports of the car deal emerge and Dr Cassar insists all dealings were above board.
• October 29: Dr Cassar defends himself in Parliament, calling the allegations a “frame up” by the Labour Party, while the PL accuses him of breaching the ministerial code of ethics.
• October 31: Opposition leader Simon Busuttil defends Dr Cassar’s integrity.
• November 1: Newspaper reports about payment for construction works appear. Following a meeting with Dr Busuttil, Dr Cassar announces his resignation from the shadow Cabinet.