Sliema councillor Sandra Camilleri has clarified the comments she gave to The Times yesterday which featured in the article entitled "Engerer slated for Sliema deputy mayor", saying that her comments may have been misinterpreted.

"My objection to Cyrus Engerer as deputy mayor is primarily because of what he said in an interview against GonziPN," she said, adding that although she did not form part of the Nationalist Party anymore she still felt hurt by the comments he made against the principles of the party.

"I would like to clarify that I have many gay friends whom I have full respect for but I do not believe that being gay is something that should be boasted about," she said.

"Also, I withdraw my comments regarding the rest of the councillors being a ‘nasty lot'. What I meant to say was that the way things were handled in the case of Nikki Dimech seemed to me to be a nasty way of doing things."

She added that she may have spoken too openly to the journalist who asked her for her opinions on the matter and may have said certain things in the heat of the moment which may have been misunderstood.

See also:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100906/local/engerer-slated-for-sliema-deputy-mayor