The president of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Mgr Philip Calleja, has strongly denied an allegation made by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in Parliament that he was being used as a mouthpiece for someone else.
Mgr Calleja said in a statement he was deeply saddened that Dr Pullicino Orlando chose to speak in Parliament to make false allegations against him.
“In the very many years I have been active in various roles in public life I have never been faced with such unjust and untruthful allegations. This is an uncalled for attack on my personal integrity and on a foundation which works very hard to safeguard one of Malta’s best treasures.
“As President of St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation it was and still is my duty to defend the hard work and the credibility of the foundation. I would like to assure Dr Pullicino Orlando that I will continue honouring my duties and commitments and I am convinced that finally the truth will prevail,” Mgr Calleja said in a statement.
He said the foundation was equally disappointed by the argument made by Dr Pullicino Orlando that St John’s Co-Cathedral did not deserve the investment the foundation was committed to make to ensure that the Co-Cathedral and its historical surroundings were safeguarded and preserved.
“From the way he spoke in Parliament it is reasonable to conclude that for Dr Pullicino Orlando, the safeguarding, preservation and upkeep of St John’s Co-Cathedral is not a priority. That is a very sad statement to be made by anyone, but coming from an MP, these statements are shocking.”
It was also clear, Mgr Calleja remarked, that Dr Pullicino Orlando was choosing to ignore the explanations given by the foundation after he first spoke about the cathedral in Parliament.
Mgr Calleja reminded Dr Pullicino Orlando that following a public call inviting all Maltese entities to submit proposals for EU funding, the foundation made a detailed and technical submission and €13.798 million, to which the foundation will be adding €2.06 million from its own funds as its co-financing share, were allocated.
Mgr Calleja noted that the foundation would be carrying out an extensive independent Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) under the control of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
“The Environmental Impact Assessment will cover all matters of concern such as the underground passages and the excavations of the square. I can assure Dr Pullicino Orlando that the foundation will never expose the Co-Cathedral or any other sites or buildings to any risk.
“Furthermore the Foundation is determined to allow MEPA to carry out its work without any interference or pressure. Dr Pullicino Orlando should do the same and avoid using his position as a Member of Parliament to put pressure on MEPA,” he said.
See also
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20081126/local/government-urged-not-to-go-for-manifestly-exaggerated-project/