Labour leader Alfred Sant this evening insisted that he will only confront Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando in court and in the presence of his lawyer.

"He expected to have a debate with me, but I will not talk to people like him," he said, referring to Dr Pullicino Orlando’s invitation for a face-to-face duel of words over the alleged case of corruption in Mistra Valley.

Dr Pullicino Orlando, admired by many for his stand on the environment, had his reputation tarnished by the Labour Party with accusations that he was involved in a plan to destroy the pristine valley. In a bid to clear his name, in the past days he was turning up at Dr Sant's events challenging him to reply to his questions, but each time Dr Sant turned away.

Instead, Dr Sant chose to present the documents and evidence of "this corruption" to build a nightclub taking up to 8,000 revellers, to the Police Commissioner.

"What did (Prime Minister Lawrence) Gonzi do? After some time he sent PN general secretary Joe Saliba to back him, and again said nothing. Then we see Pullicino Orlando crying on television," he said, in a sarcastic tone, as the crowd gathered in Qormi jeered.

The event kicked off with fireworks as the crowd greeted their leader with a display of colourful squibs (suffarelli), which were outlawed some time ago – lit right under the nose of three policemen – but which have suddenly resurfaced to usher in party officials in style.

Photo caption

Labour leader Alfred Sant talking to supporters in Qormi.