Wednesday, 14th May 2008 - 18:57CET
Pullicino Orlando stands his ground in Parliamentary speech
Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando insisted today that Opposition leader Alfred Sant’s allegations about him with regard to the proposed Mistra disco were misleading and mistaken.
He also reiterated when speaking in Parliament this evening that once police investigations were completed, he would be able to show how his actions and those of the Nationalist Party before the general election were correct.
Dr Pullicino Orlando in his speech criticised Dr Sant for having raised the case when he spoke in the House on Monday, saying that reflected a lack of respect for the investigation.
Furthermore, Dr Sant was continuing to mislead the public, and now the House, by making allegations which were “totally mistaken and fabricated.”
The Nationalist MP said the contract which Dr Sant had referred to in his speech proved that he (Dr Pullicino Orlando) had nothing to do with the planned disco. Indeed, he had been the one to hand a copy of the contract to the Police Commissioner before the election.
Furthermore the plans for the disco, which were publicly accessible, showed that this was to have been able to take a maximum of 500 people and not 4,000, and then 8,000, as claimed by Dr Sant.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was surprised that Dr Sant was persisting in his campaign of misinformation.
Despite the enormous pressure being brought on him by the Labour spin, however, he would hold back comment until the conclusion of the police investigation.
When that happened, however, he would be able to show how correct he and the Nationalist Party had been in their actions and declarations before the general election, Dr Pullicino Orlando said. Everybody would then be able to judge which voters had been misled. Those who had launched this strategy against him would need to give a different interpretation of what they called The Mistra Scandal.
Dr Pullicino Orlando tabled the plans of the proposed disco as approved by Mepa, saying that of the club area of 740 square metres, just over half would have been a landscaped area with indigenous trees. Much of the remaining site would have been a paved area with a small area having a height that was not higher than two metres.
He was tabling these plans, Dr Pullicino said, not because he had any part in the project, but to show how Dr Sant had been giving misleading information.
He also tabled an article published in The Times on March 1 where he explained that he knew of the project but not its details since that involved only the developer.
Dr Pullicino Orlando denied that he had ever said he did not know who he leased the Mistra site to. What he had not known was who had submitted the development application on behalf of the lessee.
The lessee had later explained to him that he had asked somebody else to submit the application because he feared that if a particular influential person involved in the same business came to know, he would try to obstruct it, as he had done in the past. Indeed, one had to assume that the same had happened, with the help of the MLP, Dr Pullicino Orlando said.
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Comments
2. My reference to the other discos was to point out the fact that both of them have far larger parking space as opposed to Mistra project proposal. Since you stated that the fauna at Mistra will not be altered that much according to the plans handed to MEPA, can you please state in which part of the proposed plan did the architect make space for parking? Will customers park on the pebbles?
3. The project at hand unfortunately for JPO is concerned with his property and thus I have to quote his name. I have nothing personal against him and this is not an issue of PN vs MLP since for your information I’m a PN supporter but wrong is wrong and being JPO doesn’t put you above anything or anyone. As to your comment regards WW2 I will take it with a pinch of salt and end it there.
4. I see that your line of thought regards the pressure exerted by JPO on MEPA officials is based on the fact that since other persons do wrong things than he is justified and can join the club. The burden of being a politician is that you have to play by the rules and be more careful when exposing yourself to such situations.
5. I used to respect JPO before this matter was exposed. He did very good things in the past and in fact I’m not asking for his decapitation only because I seek justice. I want to see whether justice is blind or not here in Malta.
6. My dear, having an opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t trust the Justice system. In fact I said I would accept the decision taken.
7. If the St. Paul’s Bay area is in need of such focused attention, how would you explain the closure of the Mistra Village? Why is Beach Heaven practically deserted almost all year round (no offence to the management)
1. Auditor approved the building of a larger site (next door to the Mistra plot in question) when he was chairman of the DCC board... Funnily enough this site was recommended for refusal.... a couple of hours later the plan was accepted by the DCC board.
2. Numero Uno and Gianpula are BOTH in ODZ zones and no one is complaining about them here. ALSO, a friendly reminder that both Gianpula (and Gianpula fields) and Numero Uno are built to house a MUCH larger number of people... which is probably why people find it increasingly difficult to park there. ( More people = More Cars ... ;) )
3. I already explained the Natural Fauna issue... putting pebbles on soil is not an eradication of Natural Fauna, nor is putting a wooden platform on soil. If so then we should start removing our benches, umbrellas and decorative pebbles from the garden. Anyone who has been to Mistra recently, would notice the state it is in- being used as rubbish dump site, the soil is covered in harmful debris (terrapin) from the times of the British, there are abandoned buildings which are being used for god only knows what, fish farms. What's to be done about this? I don't suppose you're going to say that it's JPO's fault that Mistra is in the state that it is too? (although frankly, I wouldn't put it past you, you'd probably blame WW2 on JPO if you had the chance)
4. You have no evidence that JPO acted outside the limits of decency by contacting MEPA officials, none whatsoever. If you were to ask the same MEPA officials they would probably tell you that there were other people who called them much more than JPO ever did. There have been hundreds of plans that have been recommended refusal and then accepted by the DCC board. It's all a case of two weights to measures, if this case is wrong then MEPA would have to open up those hundreds of applications of similar bearing and declare them illegal.
5. I at no point stated that he was a Green Politician... you're the one pounding that message. I think JPO's environmental credibility is sound. I don't believe even you can say that what JPO did does not merit applause... there are very, very few people in his position who did as much as he did for Malta's environment. Remember, at no point has he himself ever said that he was a Green politician, that's a label that was given to him.
6. So you're saying if he's cleared even by the police you will still think there is something fishy... so you're saying you have no faith in our Justice system too?
7. I am in favour of bringing life to that area of the country. It has been incessantly reported that there has to be more focused attention in the St. Paul's Bay region... This would have been a perfect opportunity to put out money where our mouth is. People would not have kick up a huge fuss if JPO was not implicated... same way they didn't kick up a fuss about similar developments. Hypocrisy at its best!
Do you think the developers signed such a contract, investing all that money to lease the property and they were going to simply host 500 guests during the summer nights?
The plans seem to be of the garden of EDEN with all those trees and wooden floors not to disturb the surrounding flora and fauna!!!!! And only dimmed solar powered lights installed, with guitarists playing soft music not to exceed 50dB.....!
We truly have lots of GREEN businessman and politicians amongst us!
1. With reference to the parking lot you mentioned, I never heard of any reputable businessman who would willingly allow another competitor / businessman to use his facilities in order to benefit from them for FREE.
2. As to the organised transport, well yes people do use it but if you consider discos of the sort like Gianpula and Numero Uno, adjacent to the disco itself they both have fields used for parking which are at least 10 times as large as the disco complex itself in order to cater for the parked cars. Correct me if I’m wrong (and this is open to anyone and not only Emma Johnson) did you ever go to Gianpula or Numero Uno and find the parking empty or there abouts??
3. As to your sarcasm regards where to place a disco…. Obviously I wouldn’t expect one to be built in the build-up area but neither do I expect to eradicate the natural fauna of Mistra for the benefit of JPO or his sub-letters. As to the noise pollution I hope that what you said will be implemented in the event that they do build the disco so that at least when families go for a BBQ at Mistra Bay, they will still be able to talk to one another if they are able to find space for parking their car.
4. If MP’s use their position to influence other people’s opinion or judgment be it an MP from the PN side or MLP side is outright wrong in my humble opinion. I have to follow the normal channels to apply and be granted a permit for something I want to do so I pretend the MP’s to be treated likewise.
5. Mr. Sultana applied for the permit on 23 Sep 2005. Mr. Caruana recommended the refusal for the permit on 14 March 2006. DCC Board opted to accept outline development 12 Nov 2007……… I waited 5 years to be granted approval for a staircase from my courtyard to my garage roof top….. way to go JPO, that is what I call putting pressure!!
6. As to the question you posed, if he is proven innocent…. Even though I would still believe there is something fishy about the whole issue…. I will accept the Commissioner of Police decision but do not expect me to vote for him
Now you answer my question or rather think about the following scenario: -
Should JPO be proven innocent and the disco permit granted, if during the building process they alter the original plan and MEPA just fines the developer but lets him build the structure anyway and than maybe in a couple of years time they apply for an upgrading phase of lets say from capacity of 400 (as he states) to capacity of 2000 or more…… would you still agree with the decision taken by the MEPA authorities concerned at this moment in time? Would you still protect JPO and state that he is actually a Green Politician?
To the Times of Malta people ...Please do not omit any words if possible, thanks
1. Adjacent to the plot in question there is a parking lot which belongs to the Restaurant next door. Parking problem solved ... as you may or may not know, a lot of people use organized transport instead of their cars nowadays which would reduce the amount of cars significantly. Also (I believe I read this in the Malta Independent article) the sound system was specifically designed to reduce the noise output significantly which would cause minimal disturbance to the area with regards noise pollution. Where does one place discos? In the middle of villages?
2. Once again, I am pretty sure other MP's have called MEPA officials religiously to ascertain that their constituents needs are appeased... What do we do about all of them? And how is that corrupt?
3. It took the application 2 and a half years to be accepted (outline development permit)...
What exactly is your argument I.M Dingli?...
Answer my question, if JPO is proven to be innocent will you still persist in arguing for his resignation? Even if he hasn't done anything wrong?
The whole matter revolves around the fact that the area in question is a protected area and any kind of development should be refused. If they refuse a permit to Cikku why should JPO be different? Is it because he’s a person of a bigger calibre than Cikku!
If your arguments are based on the fact that JPO only applied for: - ‘56% is made up of Indigenous Trees, the rest is paved area (pebbles on soil), and a WOODEN Platform measuring 1.5 meters in height. Is this what you call scandalous? A maximum of 400 people would have fit in the area’, then he should have applied for the development of the wooden platform only and save a lot of money since according to your comment the area will remain practically unaltered! I also think that you are a bit short sighted in your views since it’s not just the structure which will be effected but imagine the noise of an open air discotheque. And what about the parking for the so called 400 customers.
Moreover, why did JPO put his heart to it and reportedly call the MEPA officials on almost a daily basis, pressuring them into issuing the necessary permits (confirmed by the depositions of the officials themselves). Can’t he wait like the rest of us or he was already planning things to do with the money he’s going to earn from the MINOR project at hand!
Personally I had to wait 5 years for MEPA to give me a permit to construct a staircase from MY Internal courtyard to the top of MY Adjacent garage for which I already had access from another part of the house but which wasn’t that convenient. Who is JPO when it comes to legal matters….. is he superior?
Innocent until proven guilty
He was man enough to face the possible MLP Prime Minster of the country and we should be proud of his bravery for doing it. If he is innocent you will all be wrong. And will you all apologise for it? We are behind you Jeffrey.
The only greedy business man in this particular story is the one who as quoted from the article above, "if a particular influential person involved in the same business came to know, he would try to obstruct it, as he had done in the past. Indeed one has to assume that the same had happened with the help of the MLP"... This business man, who seemingly had his own interests at heart was appeased by MLP. What's to say that if MLP had been elected the same wouldn't have happened? Oops... Didn't consider that now did we?
56% is made up of Indigenous Trees, the rest is paved area (pebbles on soil), and a WOODEN Platform measuring 1.5 meters in height. Is this what you call scandalous? A maximum of 400 people would have fit in the area. If you don't believe me you can calculate it yourselves... unless of course you count the people supposedly sitting on the INDIGENOUS trees as Dr. Sant did. How did he lie in public? He said he knew about the project before, he never said he didn't know about it, he said he did not know the details which is perfectly understandable and lawful. I suggest that Maria Dolores Fenech and I.M Dingli look these facts up and rethink their arguments. JPO never said that he was an Environmental Champion, he just defended the Environment on several occasions. He did not GIVE himself the Green Politician of the Year award, it was GIVEN to him.
Also, it was JPO himself who gave the Contract to the Police not Dr. Sant, if he had something to hide, would it have made sense for him to do that? I suggest you look at the You Tube interviews again and you will see that I am right. Maria Dolores Fenech should stop using the "cry like a baby" incident at the risk of being reminded of her poor ex-"serial loser" leader who could have been PM and "ran away like a chicken" from a Back Bencher because he could not defend himself. You're right the facts cannot be twisted but if you are fed the wrong facts by Super One then I can't help but twist them into what is clearly the truth.
The Contract itself is what shows us that JPO had nothing to hide and did everything Lawfully. That's why contracts exist. So, try not to attempt to insult my intelligence.
Are you all telling me that if JPO is found totally innocent and everything comes out that he did absolutely nothing wrong you are willing to see a valid and innocent man leave parliament? Are we going to kick out Charles Mangion and Karmenu Vella too? And are we going to investigate all MP's (PN and MLP) alike for contacting MEPA officials? ...Fair is fair... and Justice is Justice!!
Are we supposed to forget how he was going to ruin Mistra if this project would have gone ahead, if Dr Sant had not unveiled this two-faced politician, one posing as a green politician and the other as a greedy businessman? No one here is attacking JPO personally, what it is being said here is that he should be man enough to admit that he has lied to the public and resign.
It is not true he had no chance to defend himself. He could have gone on NET TV and give his version of the facts and not go and cry like a baby to gain sympathy. I think that the people at Pieta would have given him all day if they believed he was innocent, but they did not.......
The FACTS cannot be twisted.
Did you follow the news, listened to JPO's news conference and loked up MEPA's site since last March?
Someone was very much in the wrong granting permit to 'Utilization of open area as an open-air entertainment area'!!!! This open area happened to be in a protected zone outside development zone!!!! Mistra is a beautiful place which was already ruined by an other development, not to mention the fishfarms!
But on this island very few are accountable for their actions!!!!!!
Oh my GOD, utterly unbelievable.... documents have more weight than words so please don’t insult our intelligence. It is written black on white, stamped by the MEPA authorities and signed by JPO himself….. What further proof are you seeking Ms. Johnson? I suggest you go to youtube and watch the clips concerning the matter prior to and after the election of 8th March 2008 and you will also see JPOs conflicting versions.
Over 5000 people voted the man into parliament... he gained 2 seats from 2 separate districts and you persist in saying that he could have cost us the election? Imagine JPO had not faced Dr. Sant, which NO ONE in that parliament would have ever done, not in a million years, wouldn't the situation have been much worse? You seem to have forgotten that JPO received the loudest reception at the PN mass meetings... You seem to have conveniently forgotten all of this! Remember without those 5000 votes the PN would not have won the election... and if you argue that they could have gone to someone else on the PN ticket consider that there were many people who were not even going to vote... Let alone vote for the Party who in the end did so because they were disgusted by the MLP's campaign and voted for JPO
@ All
Wake up... Stop believing what is fed to you and weigh the facts. If the man is innocent you will regret having said these things. If he is not, then neither you nor I have the right to judge him... he is a human being... it would be nice if everyone came back down to earth, stopped playing God for one second and acted like Human Beings... but for most, not being able to judge someone else would only lead to them judging themselves and their actions... Shock, Horror and Woe Betide if that ever happened!
@ Arthur Ellul and other MLP sympathizers
If it is the case that JPO "collared" persons to approve the project, how is it possible that the man could not get the permit to build a reservoir to water his plants? And if he was THAT powerful... why did the Permit (Outline Development Permit) take 2 and a half years to be given? And can you honestly, as an adult, really say that JPO would be the ONLY person in parliament who has contacted a MEPA official? Hah! What a joke! MPs call MEPA practically every day to follow up their constituent’s plans ... if JPO is found guilty of this, investigations should start for all other MP's too! Fair is Fair and Justice is Justice... What has the man done wrong exactly? I'm not aware of the law that states, " Don't rent out your land" (Of course, I'm talking about our modern day laws, not those laid down by the Lord of the Land for his peasants... just wanted to make that distinction)
JPO did not know the applicant as he stated in the Times Article of the 1st of March, it was not the lessee that submitted the application, and JPO knew whom he was renting the land out to. He is clearly neither senile nor stupid. So let's not make him out to be either.
Remember HE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN THE CHANCE TO DEFEND HIMSELF... Persisting in this ridiculous witch-hunt for a man who will most probably be found innocent just shows what medieval minds you all have. Lower your pitchforks and fire torches for a moment and read between the lines- Dr. Sant and his minions LIED TO YOU. JPO did not have mass meetings or interviews on TV or Newspaper interviews to explain himself fully. You have all been so brainwashed in thinking that this man must be guilty that you cannot stop for a moment and formulate an opinion. Grow up! He is a human being, with feelings, a family, integrity and dignity just like all of you supposedly have- is it that difficult to empathize with someone who has not caused you any harm or injury?
You yourself should know, and it is quite amazing how you persist in restating what is unethical, that because of the concurrent police investigations JPO could not give his side of the story. Basically, Dr. Bezzina, you are attempting to nail the man to the cross without him being able to defend his position, which he has not yet done. Is this Justice? Are you even willing to hear his side of the story? Because you seem to be hell bent on passing judgement without being given all the evidence against Dr. Sant's fabricated arguments. He is not allowed to do so before the investigations are over. Like it or lump it but that is a fact.
You were kind enough to submit the fact that you are lawyer (as if your Dr., LLD and BA are an extension of your birth name) so use your knowledge wisely. You are giving the impression that you somehow have personal interest in seeing JPO resign from parliament... Would this be entertaining for you? Or are you interested in watching your country being thrust into political turmoil? In any case, Dr. Emmy D. Bezzina LLD BA, you know very well that JPO has no power over the Police Commissioner and so, cannot influence him to release the report. Maybe in your little world this form of undue pressure would happen but in ours it doesn't. I can't imagine what JPO is feeling at the moment- what this time must be like for him. There MUST be a reason why JPO was allowed to speak in Parliament to defend himself yesterday… I’m pretty sure he didn’t just waltz into parliament without having the proper authority to deliver such a speech.
Who told you that I am not sitting down, relaxed and taking it easy? Why shouldn't I? I was not taken in by JPO after seeing him crying!
Prior to the election Dr Sant showed the contract which was also available on the MLP site for everyone to see. JPO did not deny these FACTS. It was not only Dr Sant that spoke about this but to name one (I think(?) is not a labourite), Lou Bondi pointed out more facts that were overseen by others. Was he misleading too?
My point is that the versions that JPO has given during various occasions do not coincide and this cannot be blamed on Dr. Sant or MLP. What bothers me is that when politicians are involved, things seem to take really long to be settled, giving way to doubts about the credibility of the final reports. I would really like to know how you can sit back and relax.
In the case of normal citizens, the whole process is very abrupt!!
the bottom line is that no one in here has the facts, unless you are a privileged one. Outside the investigation team, what we have is bits and pieces. I am sure that neither JPO nor your beloved Alfred Sant are privy to all that have taken place.
So, why don't you sit down, relax, take it easy, and when all the facts are out contribute to a discussion that is based on facts.
You keep on saying that the MLP jumped the gun because they thought they won the election by 15000 votes. Do you remember the famous Photo Finish (EFA was it 1996)? Min jgholli jdejh kulhadd ghandu xi jxomm!!!
What most people are saying here is not whether JPO is guilty or not, that is the court's work, but why did he (the green politician!) approved (by signing a contract) that a disco was to be built on his land that was a Natura 2000 (ODZ)?
Why did he say he did not know anything about it, and that he told the applicant to withdraw the application (before the election) and now he is trying to justify the project by saying that it shall have trees(!), it has a capacity of only 400 people, that a wall of only 2 metres will be built, when no development should even be made at Mistra?
And I would also like to point out that Lou Bondi said at Bondi+ that when the lease expires JPO WAS TO BE THE OWNER OF BOTH THE LAND AND THE DISCO.
Are you still sure, that despite these facts he is not lying, that he has nothing to hide, that Mistra was not going to be ruined by the green politician of Malta?
By the way, weren't the investigations concluded long time ago? I smell rotten fish in all this as JPO is sure of the outcome....mmmm why the report hasn't been published yet? or JPO is fabricating one that suits him and the PN?
Dear all GonziPN boot lickers, keep on supporting your JPO's if you think you are in the correct lane. Who cares about natural land being destroyed? who gives a damn about anything in this country after all? What counts is that we have another GonziPN government. If this government decides to burn as alive, we will come in here and glorify him before it is our turn.!!!......................oooh I feel sick!!! Please take me away from this country and these type of people!!!
Need I say more, of course not.
The JPO issue is being handled by the police. Let's wait for the outcome. In our democracy one is presumed innocent until proven guilty, irrespective of 'all the evidence'. My comments concentrated on the fact that the Malta Labour Party always jumps the gun. I gave prove, who can deny or contradict what I said. Finally, for the Socialist that really need the repeat kindergarden class I would like to state that if JPO was to resign there would be a casual election and the P.N. would elect another MP. Sorry, we will not lose the majority. Keep on dreaming brothers.
JPO also denied having stated that he had ever said that he did not know to whom he had leased his land. Well I suggest that JPO should re-visit his Talking Point (The Times) of March 1st 2008. In my view, until I am proved, mistaken, I will continue to argue that this exactly what he did.
And as to JPO's credibility it is not Dr Sant's comments that worry me but the PM's and PN General Secretary's comments after the election, the first on the TV programme Dissett and the other in a press interview. Both of them remarked that if at the time, i.e. before the elections, they had known what they came to know after, one would have acted differently (PM) and the other no differently (PN Gen. Sec). Hence they both implied that there was a good deal of truth in what the Opposition had been saying. It is the PM and General Secretary that JPO must now address his remarks to.
- Basically, he followed up his comments by commenting that he won't comment until the end of the investigation.
"The Nationalist MP said the contract which Dr Sant had referred to in his speech proved that he (Dr Pullicino Orlando) had nothing to do with the planned disco. Indeed, he had been the one to hand a copy of the contract to the Police Commissioner before the election."
- Oh, ok, I've nothing to do with all this, I only have my signature on my copy on the contract.
I would have also liked to read about the reaction of the other government MP's after his speech. How many of them applauded?
In January 2008 a contract of lease was signed by the owner (JPO) and the lessee. One of the conditions in this contract was that the land in question had to be developed into a discotheque. So JPO not only knew exactly what was to happen with his land but he approved it.
Yet, he says that the contract proves his innocence. How?
His loyalty to the government whip is guaranteed as he has so much to lose should the Gonzipn government not survive a full term.
The issue is already being made to fade away in the Govermemt-friendly media. The usual suspects are taking the line 'we are bored stiff with Mistra. let's forget all about it". Come 2013, it will not even be a distant memory.
why is the investigation taking so long? Now that is a good question!! the fact that JPO cannot wait for the investigation outcome to be made public for him to be able make a statement is enough proof for me that he really has nothing to hide.
Prior to the election JPO said that everything Dr. Sant is saying is a gimmick and that JPO himself doesn’t know anything about the project. After the election results he changed his version to the one you have rightly quoted and written documents (signed by JPO himself) show clearly what kind of income he was going to get from the project. And yes, keep on insisting on the fact that someone is going to pay such a yearly rent to JPO for a 500 people disco!!
The ethical problem here lies in not the application per se or the police investigation if there was wrong doing BUT the fact that when the accusation was originally launched JPO had said that he had nothing to do with this and that he did not even know who the MEPA applicant was.
It is what appears to be a blatant lie as later it was proven that he had signed a contract and that MEPA had advised him of the applciaiton by registered letter.
Leave us all in peace, resign and stop giving us all this bull over and over again!
The very simple fact that you wanted to build on an ODZ is more than enough, even if it was a small garage to house your mutur tal-hart, because, I presume, as a farmer you have one of those...
The case in question was handed over to the Attorney General weeks ago. I said this last week and I wll repeat, nothing will come out of this case.
In this country the word RESIGN was lost in translation.
Joe Saliba was right after all: anything for the sake of governing. So much to public probity!
Sorry mates, but i find all this revolting. Do we really have to wait a full 5 years?
Let the conclusions of the investigation be made public and then decide!
Why accuse someone before the full details are known.
Surely this is the first time we heard of 500 people and development of not more than 2m - we were told 8000 people (that is 16 times more!!!???)
Even the size - we were told that this was a very large area when according to JPO this 'club area' is 370 sq.m (half 740sq.m)
Insomma a case of wait and see for me, then i will form an opinion!
How can Jeffrey draw an oh-so-premature conclusion about what the police investigation will result?...I wonder.
The people can't be taken for a ride any further particularly those who voted for this poor soul.
Dr.Sant was absolutely right to raise the matter up on the first possibility that the Opposition could do so in the House of Representatives.In the opinion of many, the Opposition has been too weak and lenient on this issue.If JPO had nothing to hide on this scandal,he should state the facts publicly and not hide behind the Commissioner of Police.The PrimeMinister and the Nationalist Party should have long respected the Electorate and came out with the truth.
If Dr. Sant allegedly lacked respect for the Investigators [ which is utter nonsense by the utterer ], then JPO lacked grave reverence for the Political Sovereign who is none other than us THE PEOPLE !The basic point is that here we are relating to an AREA outside the Development Zone - by his own confession, JPO knew this and that is a Crime against MALTA & the MALTESE.Hence JPO,RESIGN! YOU YOURSELF CONFESSED THAT YOU WERE WELL AWARE ABOUT THE PROJECT.....all else is utterly irrelevant.
Has the investigation been completed or not? Has the outcome been communicated to the AG or not?
The longer it takes to shed some light on this sorry business, the stronger becomes the suspicion that supposedly independent and impartial authorities are playing political games to favour the party in power.
He seems certain about the results of the police investigation already!!!
"The Nationalist MP said the contract which Dr Sant had referred to in his speech proved that he (Dr Pullicino Orlando) had nothing to do with the planned disco. Indeed, he had been the one to hand a copy of the contract to the Police Commissioner before the election. "
How could the contract prove he had nothing to do with the planned disco, when the contract was signed by himself?!!!! can anyone explain this to me?
Why would he give it to the commissioner? And does it mean that by giving it to the commissioner he is innocent?!!! With the same argument I can kill someone, give the knife to the commissioner, and since I gave the knife to the commissioner I expect myself to be innocent.
Jeffrey, admit your involvement in the issuance of the necessary permit. You have already been proved wrong by the MEPA audit investigation officer and how you collared persons when assisting the applicant be provided with the relative permits.
Be a gentleman, accept responsibility and resign from an MP.
(1) How can such a case be "totally mistaken and fabricated" when there is factual hard evidence about the case...JPO even produced the site plans and he even knew details such as the disco's capacity.
(2) How does JPO know the outcome of the Police investigations?
(3) Let us assume that JPO is correct and the capacity is not for 4000 people but 500. How would this absolve him?
(4) How can he say that he knew of the project but not its details when he is caught on tape saying that this disco has been approved by the MRA, MRAE, Water Services Corp, Enemalta, Kummissjoni Nazzjonali ta' Persuni b'Dizabilita...?
(5) At the same time he also said: "L-anqas naf ezzattament, sincerament ta', ma nafx x'inhu l-progett..."
(6) How can this man be a dentist, politician, part time journalist, part time farmer all at once?
(7) How can we believe that JPO, Lawrence Gonzi's first cousin (the architect) and the PN are not all related in this scandal?
Well it seems to me that the final chapters of this scandal are not yet written...
JPO should resign. He could have given Sant the government by his attitude