Saturday, 26th April 2008 - 13:22CET
MLP asks Gonzi, Pullicino Orlando, to explain timesofmalta.com comment
The Labour Party has called on Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando to explain comments he posted on timesofmalta.com earlier this week.
The comments were posted in reply to Fr Joe Borg’s blog called In praise of this beautiful but quaint Island.
Dr Pullicino Orlando had written: “I have not yet been given the opportunity to defend myself and to present the general public with the full facts of the case you are referring to. I will do so at the opportune moment once police investigations have been concluded. Rest assured that my position and the position of my party prior to the elections with regards to the Mistra so-called 'scandal' will be more than vindicated.”
The MLP said it was also calling on the prime minister and PN general secretary Joe Saliba to declare whether or not they agreed with Dr Pullicino Orlando’s post.
“The declaration made by Dr Pullicino Orlando is very serious and worrying. This is nothing more than unacceptable pressure by Dr Pullicino Orlando on the police investigation into the Mistra scandal. It is unacceptable that, when investigations have not been completed, the main protagonist comes out saying what is supposed to happen once the investigations end,” the MLP said.
The party said it was calling on Dr Pullicino Orlando to explain how he had concluded that when the investigations come to an end, they would confirm that he and the PN were right.
The party insisted that no one outside the police force should have access to the investigations, least of all Dr Pullicino Orlando.
Dr Gonzi and Mr Saliba were therefore being asked to declare whether they agreed with what Dr Pullicino Orlando had written on timesofmalta.com, more so as Dr Gonzi had declared that whoever comments on this case at this time is not serious, since investigations are ongoing.
The MLP also asked Dr Pullicino Orlando to explain his claim, made on Net TV on Tuesday, that the Mistra case was nothing other than mudslinging.
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Comments
Correct me if I m wrong , but this form was even shown by the media ! So whether JPO dealt with the renter or the developer he signed the B form , so he knew what was going on ! Finally not only was JPO aware but even the Prime Minister since this B form is a common procedure .
NOT ONLY A, PAR IDEJN SODI the p.n in Goverment has, my friend.
We have,
1, Democracy u Serhan il - Mohh with Dr. L. Gonzi as Prime Minister of Malta again,
2, A state of the Art, Mater Dei Hospital , for free to all Maltese Nation,
3, New roads , that the mlp always wanted to do But Never did as usual,
4, Full E.U Members,
5, The euro in your pocket , oops and Mine too.
ecc,ecc,ecc.
And the truth is that the mlp LEADERS, are very Unhappy that now all the citizens of Malta, are now FREE to Express their view on any party , on all the media Specially the Internet !
When JPO was still a Student ,He was beaten up by the 70' Police Corp, Why ?
He and many others were making a Peaceful Demonstration. YES FANTASTIC !!
I never mentioned names and I was never referring to all.
b.r.
UNBELIEVABLE
We all demand the truth about this case. However no-one can deny the facts regarding the involvement of JPO in this case. But since he is a PN MP then he has to come out clean in some way or another, no matter what (otherwise perhaps he can topple the government). For the PN & it's apologists, we don't need land like Mistra to be natural but we need to promote further people like JPO who can do whatever they want in this country. L-aqwa li ghandna "Par Idejn Sodi".
@ all PN apologists: I think Labour has to right to enquire about this case. The arrogance reached by the PN and supporters is unbelievably sky high. With your attitude it clearly shows we are quickly shifting to a dictatorial state where no-one can speak unless in favour of government. So all MLP supporters should shut up criticising this benevolent government.
@ everyone: In the MLP there is currently a restructuring process going on including the leadership elections and so on. To my knowledge it is done in the most democratic way, where everyone has his say, then it's up to the voters to decide whom to choose. But for many democracy is described as "battering" or "divisive".
Regarding this case, I hope MLP and others keep making pressure as we were ending up with a raped piece of a natural land while JPO (the green man of the year) ends up with 20million euros in the pocket. Oops sorry that's what we voted for.!!!
Apart from the fact that during these times the Attorney General had the responsibility of Malta’s hunting case in front of the European Court of Justice and God knows how much more work, when is length of time a sole criteria for a job well done? Had the investigation been concluded in a short time, your reader would probably have said that it was a whitewash as one cannot conduct a thorough investigation in a few weeks.
Let’s summarise MLP’s logic on this issue:
1. MLP thought that PM would not refer case to Commissioner of Police (COP). Alfred Sant makes a press do on the issue, just to find that PM had already referred case to Commissioner of Police;
2. MLP criticise PM for not making it public that he referred case to COP, not realising that the police need to be able to do their work without the manoeuvring of public pressure and the media;
3. While the police do their work, MLP officials and MLP media, on a daily basis, publiSH ‘leaks’ from the police investigations, and repeatedly report that police are about to move charges against a number of people;
4. At the same time, they carefully protect from such media hype, a close associate of the MLP involved in the case;
5. If the police move charges on this case, MLP will say “we were right”. If they don’t, MLP will say “it is a whitewash”.
As a DNA defected individual, I can never beat this logic.
Rarely does a political party take three months to elect a successor following the resignation of its leader. I wonder whether these three months may also be interpreted by your readers as “lending themselves to manoeuvring”.
Your Million € question is easily answered - Dr. Sant goes by established and set rules. Dr Sant has always stood and stands for Law and Order .
Who gave JPO an express Press card? Who supported JPO..in these goings on...before the election and would still do the same as long as election is won?
It is not always the winners who play by the rules, and even winners do not come out all that clean.
The fact that we have heard nothing yet means that there something very damaging for the Government and the PN in the results of the investigation. Two and two always make four.
What is worrying is that the police seem to be lending themselves to this maneouvering.
Very worrying indded.
I am sure you are another Daydreamer about feeling that J.P.O. should resign, l.o.l.
Another fee less advice !
How can you talk about honour ??
HONOUR MEANS:
An ex mlp leader to face JPO in the press conference at the PBS, not Running away !
To be fair, to his fan's { Sant's } the ones that let him down again = three times LOSER !
there is so much more to say, but it will take me some Five year's more to Finish here,
and as for the P.N 's Supporters, They sure showed how they feel about J.P.O. as he was
Elected from two ( 2 ) DISTRICTS ,
J.P.O. will fight this dirty trick to the end ,you bet my friend, so Relax and wait for the Outcome.
I quote from a recent comment below directed to Dr. Pullicino... 'He should resign while he still has some semblance of honour ' By what authority does this commentator set about being the judge and the jury?
The police investigations report will give a definite reply to the case ....unless this commentator will also doubt the police investigation as well !!
It seems some people are all out to get rid of Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino at all costs and by passing police investigations. Why all this hatred?
WAIT - Do you know the meaning of the word 'WAIT'.
No one likes waiting , not even myself but we have to .
Are some cunning ones using the old tactic of 'Repeat it today and every day and finally it will be believed'.... I recall someone saying this.
The best thing is to wait for the final outcome since coming to conclusions (the MLP way) at this stage is presumptuous to say the least.
I am sure that such incidents often happen, since people with similar names and surnames are common in Malta. I suggest to the Times online to indicate the town of the person who made the post, as they do in the daily published newspaper so as to avoid unnecessary confusion.
Is it possible that in 2008 there are people who wants to hold the right of expression...ppl believe that after A.Sant escape there was a very obvious reason with seems that so obvious it is not....Lets wait the police ends her duty and we will know.
1. FACT - Police investigations are not concluded - we are still waiting .....does it really take so long may I ask ?
2. What is most clear, beyond any doubt, is MLP knew beforehand about this issue and chose to use the spin valley mistra case as a last minute tool to discredit PN before the elections together with all the other alleged corruption comments.
To a certain extent it did work but it was not enough for an MLP victory.
3. If the police investigations outcome result in any persons involved found not guilty of wrong doing, than whoever is responsible for instigating such allegations must pay the price in court.
4. If on the other hand persons are found guilty of scandal or character assassination or false allegations they do not deserve to represent anyone in parliament and here I am referring to both sides of the house .
a fact that, they LOST to the Big IVA the people of Malta gave the P.N Again. Why ?
The mlp supporters not TFIH TA TAJN wanted no ! they wanted, Democracy and not fear
like the 70's and 80's, U MELA hlief J.P.O TIELA U J.P.O niezel sal Gurnata tal - lum !!
ok it's the mlp' leaders Problem.
It seem that J.P.O is going to show that he acted properly on the Mistra issue,
and then what J.P.O. WILL ask the mlp ??? I hope not just a mere sorry !!
(a) whether there was any corrupt practices of any kind involved
(b) whether he was HONEST with the public and HIS party leader, or whether he lied.
As regards point (a) for all that matters he may well not be found guilty beyond any reasonable by the court especially since corruption is very difficult to prove in legal terms BUT as regards point (b) he surely can`t claim that it will vindicate his position and that of the party before the election (which was a one-man party at that time) ... because it is pretty obvious that from his version on day one, the one that he knew absolutely nothing, to the public crying one, to what then came to public knowledge (the signed contract by JPO, the obligation to the investors to invest a certain amount in property on the land otherwise the contract will be void, the rent he already received, the fact that after 15 years all the property on that land will be his, what has to be built on the land such as the disco, etc ) he can`t say that he didn`t know anything....
SO .... is JPO guilty of corrupt practices ? We don`t know at the moment
Can JPO claim that he didn`t lie to and deceive the party, leader and public ? ABSOLUTELY NO.
So please, dear JPO, do not try to shift the focus on just one thing. The police are investigating whether you are corrupt or not ..... the fact that you DID NOT SAY THE TRUTH CANNOT BE DENIED !
What impertinence, effrontery and hypocrisy is shown by the MLP, asking JPO to explain his comments re Fr Joe Borg's blog. It seems the MLP and its supporters could go on and on, ad nauseam, day after day, commenting and condemning JPO on the Mistra case, but woe to JPO for saying anything in his defence. Do they never learn? What a shameful and arrogant Party.
The extent of high-Euro land developer Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's behavior might become the biggest scandal in decades, but to clear the air the PN strategists are trying to grapple the situation with the slippery equation that includes ignorance of the full facts and legalities.
The harm in political corruption cases is that public officials who ... are hired by all of us, elected by all of us, paid by all of us, and who take an oath to act in the public's interest are taking payola to act in a certain way.
The Mistragate Affair is not necessarily about corruption and illegalities,those can only be proved in the court room. It's about public confidence. JPO was awarded the noble title of 'The green politician of the year'. He leased a piece of land in a very sensitive environmental area for pittance and let it for a profitable sum fully aware of the massive negative impact on the environment. Even if that was the beginning and end of story,it is a betrayal of trust which effected the public confidence and should therefore resign. No more no less.
Why does the MLP make such a big fuss about a man who jumps up in his own defence whenever he is cornered to do so? Is it an attempt at deviating attention from the colourful saga the MLP is going through at the moment? Does the MLP want JPO to fold down and bow out without a struggle as ex-NSO director Cordina did when hounded on a daily basis? Perhaps JPO, being a hardened politician, has acquired a lot more stamina to rebut arrow volleys without caving in so quickly. I honestly cannot understand the MLP's actions in this affair. Can't they understand that they are only managing to shift the thinking voter's focus on their antics instead of on JPO's doings or alleged wrongdoings?
A very good ENGLISH proverb. End of story.
Yes Jeffrey we are really waiting that the Mistra case becomes public. Then we can give our judgement. If it was for the MLP party/media and supporters they would have already sent you behind bars.
K. Chircop
Prior to police investigations and prior to March 8 JPO had all the possibilities to air his views and proof on his party's TV and Radio stations i.e. NET TV and Radio 101. It would have saved a lot of allegations, especially the one of mud-slinging. Why this was not done immediately is a mystery and shall probably remain so. It is very difficult, now that so much time has passed and that certain information might have been lost, to persuade many about mud-slinging or not. As happens usually with such things, many people's minds are made up. It would be a real pity that people start doubting also police investigations. One thing is certain - a permit to construct at Mistra was issued. Who is going to shoulder the responsibility? Ghosts? People need to see justice prevail.
Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said:
"Rest assured that my position and the position of my party prior to the elections with regards to the Mistra so-called 'scandal' will be more than vindicated.”
To any reasonable man/woman that statement doesn't sound like he is TRYING "to vindicate his innocence once the police inquiry is concluded." It means that he already knows the outcome of the police investigations which gives rise to the POSSIBLE claim (but not definite since Dr. Pullicino Orlando may be trying to fight the battle to the end) that he knows exactly what is going in in the investigation. Just as he apparently knew exactly was going on with the MEPA application.
Secondly, you ought to know that it is no longer the MLP who are only asking questions about this case but other politically independent establishments. The words "You're Unbelievable!" come to mind.
K. Chirchop
You had better concentrate on Jason, and his henchmen on super one. The people will take you more seriously if you put your house in order before telling others what to do.
Is this the reason why the mlp administration is so afraid of Gorg abela and have already put its weight behind Muscat? Shame on the MLP. You coste your supporters already three defeats in a row.
JPO said that he will only try to vindicate his innocence once the police inquiry is concluded. The MLP, its media and its supporters have been claiming JPO is guilty every single day since PM Gonzi referred the case to the Police Commissioner and the MEPA Auditor. They also went so far as to mention a couple of other people together with JPO against who police charges would allegedly be brought, and all this when the police investigation is still on.
Shame on MLP and its strategy to use its media as prosecution, judge and jury.