Sunday, 1st November 2009 - 08:30CET
Joe Saliba should be ashamed - JPO
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando says former Nationalist general secretary Joe Saliba should be ashamed of the way he treated him in the aftermath of the Mistra case.
The outspoken backbencher claims there was a movement from within the party to hound him out by turning public opinion against him.
He says he regrets blindly following orders from the party on the eve of the election – even though he claims that Mr Saliba had said Dr Pullicino Orlando had won the PN the election after the infamous PBS press conference with Alfred Sant.
He says: “I never expected the same people who used me to try to attack me, destroy my credibility and try to hound me out of parliament.”
Dr Pullicino Orlando also says he is informed that people within the Nationalist Party had leaked the Mistra story to the Labour Party and that an internal investigation was underway.
In his first interview since the court cleared two former Development Control Commission of exercising private interest in the adjudication of an outline permit for a development in Mistra, Dr Pullicino Orlando says his statements on the case were twisted beyond recognition.
He maintains he did nothing wrong in the infamous Mistra case, when a plot of land he owned was earmarked by a third party for development into a disco.
Dr Pullicino Orlando also says his government is going to repeat last year’s big mistake if it is about to issue higher water and electricity rates.
Watch excerpts of the interview by clicking the link above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.
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Comments
So there was a story afterall? Thought I heard him saying didn't know anything at all... mmm
Il-Partit Laburista mhux qed iwaqqaf l-ghaqda fi hdanu tal-gays ghal xi gwadann politiku, tant hu hekk li fil-fatt jista jkun hemm gays li jersqu lejn il-PL izda jista jkun hemm xi voti konservattivi li jitbeghdu mill-PL, igifieri l-argument li ghamilt inti li l-PL qieghed jghamel dan biex jakkwista l-voti, sempliciment ma jregix.
Biex inwiegeb il-mistoqsija tieghek dwar kemm hawn gays f'Malta, nghidlek li studju f'Malta qatt ma sar, izda fl-ewropa iva u dawn jammontaw ghal madwar 10% tal-popolazzjoni ewropeja.
Issa naraw jekk il-PN iwaqqafx xi haga simili biex jithajjar, u nteressanti nisma l-apologisti tal_PN xi jkollom xi jghidu mbaghad! Meta l-PL waqqaf il-kumpanija tat-telefonija redtouch, il-PN tkaza ghax qal li l-PL qed jintervjeni fis-suq, izda issa l-PN ukoll qed jipprepara biex iwaqqaf linja telefonika.
L-istess gara dwar l-istazzjon televiziv. Meta l-PL waqqaf One TV, l-PN kien irredikola din l-inizjattiva, izda wara ikkopja lill-PL u waqqaf hu ukoll stazzjon.
UZAWK U RAMEWK!
DAK HU GONZI PN.
HUWA GARANZIJA TAL-FUTUR i.e. PN fil-Gvern ! Not less than three more generations are needed so that one can forget about your eighties ! Nothing is more risky, than re living the 1979 - 1987 with PL prominent people then, still representing PL to day. And quite a good number of them.
What you're alluring is unfounded and unproven. Its only something you PN fanatics say to yourselves inorder to forget the harsh reality of YOUR party. Whoever has his head in the year 2009 as it should be and is looking forward can clearly see (now with video proof) that the PN is in tatters.
KMB is probably one of the most honest politicians Malta have ever had!
1-JPO is the most mediocre politician of these past 2 decades. Maybe only KMB could be more mediocre. No I will never believe anybody who swore (with tears in his eyes) that he knew nothing about a contract that he had already signed.
2-The alleged manouvres within the PN only prove that the root values of PN which are the Christian Democratic values, have gone with the wind. For the sake of the real nationalists, who really believe in their root values, it's high time that the PN re-discovers his raison d'etre.
The PN needs a re birth....and a re-birth can only start from the benches of the opposition. It hurts to admit, but this is so very true.
The PN is really in a mess.
With all this back stabbing can the PN run this country effectively?
we could do with a few more like him on our P.N side, keep it up jeffrey...and those who told Lies :-( must be punished.....
We are expecting a full explanation on WHY a democratically elected member of Parliament has been treated in such a disgusting manner!!! Shame!!!
Good on you Jeffrey, Keep it up!!! The people are ALL behind you. The good will always triumph in the end and you have suffered enough!!
Can anyone imagine a ‘Mistra Saga’, having roles and positions reversed?! Can anyone imagine an MLP MP involvement in such situation under a MLP Administration and EFA as Leader of the Opposition?! Can anyone imagine Martinelli & Co about this?!
Logic and common sense says that A Sant’s behaviour towards JPO on the eve of a General Election was more then accepted in a modern democracy. But the behaviour of the high brass within the PN towards JPO was never ever expected.
The ‘Mistra Saga aftermath’ hasn’t ended. There is much more in store! JPO isn’t that weakling and softy that the PN is trying to portray!
JPO the ball is in your court to use!
Seems like pn apologists have been instructed to refer to the past because an early election is coming.
Can you get anything right? Have you seen my comment to Darin Farrugia? What's the JPO affair compared to Labour's turbulent and violent past? If JPO wants to learn the hard way, its his business, but learn he will unlike the LP and its supporters who keep reminding us of how bad they were (and some still are).
@ Darin Farrugia
"Issa armejtuh lill Joe Saliba wara li rebbahkhom dawk l-elezzjonijiet kollha!!!!!! "
You just will not get it into your head (or unable to) that Joe Saliba, weeks before he RESIGNED after many years of service to the Party, had given notice of his intention. His decision was not sudden - sparked by some disagreement, or moved out of the way by the Leader or any part of the NP administration!
There is nothing personal about giving you some advice to check your facts first and be truthful in what you write. Getting a bit touchy, these days?
This is the way politicians should speak and experss themselves.
What I really hate is that now PL supporters are going to attack PN with this and Nationalists are going to try to make him shut up.
Can't you just call it the Partit Laburista? Why has the MLP been changing name from MLP to Partit Tal_haddiema, then Moviment tal-Haddiema, Partit Socjalista, then Partit Laburista Gdid, back to MLP, then PL, and now this long winded name given to a movement that in essence is all the above.
may I remind you that JPO himself had a go at Joe Saliba.... not someone from the PL!!!
P.S. you did not need to be personal about the keyboard. Anyway PN supporters are getting very personal lately... what else can they do after a thashing they got last June.... and by the way it was also JPO that stated this, if you heard or read the interview,
bye bye viva JM.
No wonder JPO said " I never expected the same people who used me to try to attack me, destroy my credibility and try to hound me out of parliament.”
Read between the lines, what did he mean by the word"s "...used me..." .?
The million dollar question being, why hasn't Dr Gonzi commented about JPO's position and his future within the gonziPN.?
You have just provided a classical example why the ROM (rest of Malta) shall never, ever forget your violent past - YOU KEEP REMINDING US !
@ Darin Farrugia
Joe Saliba resigned and even gave advance notice of his intention, unlike a certain Secretary General of the LP who was yanked out of his ELECTED position by the administration and 'relocated' to a nondescript position in Labour's media! Know your stuff before thumping on your poor keyboard!
@ Anthony Pace Gouder
May I remind you of the anti-George Abela campaign during the LP's leadership contest?
Mr. Dalli was and is a valuable Minister and does a good job of whatever he is entrusted with and George Abela, thanks to Dr. Gonzi is Malta's (not LP's) President. And there lies the difference between the NP's and the LP's modus operandi.
"Let go, bury the past and look forward to becoming more useful to the Nation and to the Nationalist Party!"
I'm really surprised with your statement, as lately you have made frequent reference to the past for everyone to remember! You should be more consistent. To move on, everyone should bury the past, mhux fejn jaqbel lilek biss!
What if these gentlemen were found guilty?
'Let go, bury the past and look forward to becoming more useful to the Nation and to the Nationalist Party!'
FEJN TRID JOE HI KEMM TAF TITKELLEM. ARA L 80S QATT MA TINSIJOM INT GHAX HEKK JAQBILLEK., ARA VERU SKOND IZ-ZOKK IL FERHA TA....
You better shut up!! Don't forget that their is still the Micallef Case pending in court.
Joe Saliba resigned from the party with his head held high and when he looks back he will remember all the successes that he brought to his party.
With your critiscm towards Joe Saliba you have done a political suicide. For what you will be remembered?
The sooner they are introduced the better , our energy management will make a big leap forward with smart meters.The last thing this country needs is someone from the government's side to oppose such measures.
Now people have the proof where the confusion, trouble and fighting is!
From a PN supporter:
Assure you Joe Saliba commands a lot of respect from both the grass root PN supporters and those who are PN leaning. Much more than you possibly think. We voted for you and elected you from two districts last election only out of spite to Alfred Sant, who we finally got rid of.
History remembers Joe Saliba as a true hero for not only the PN but also for Malta, by getting rid of what could have been doom for Malta. You do not command the same respect and if anything you are viewed in very bad light from within a large part of PN supporters.
PN has lost a lot with Mr. Saliba's resignation - however we could live with yours, hands down.
Issa armejtuh lill Joe Saliba wara li rebbahkhom dawk l-elezzjonijiet kollha!!!!!!
This was below the belt mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@ JPO - I agree with you that besides being a politician you are also a private citizen. Even the Pope is a private citizen. So that means that if he goes out for a whole night with Monica Bellucci , he can say that as ordinary citizen he has every right to do it !
If you are to be taken seriously when on national TV you declared yourself a Nationalist, past, present and future, don't harm the party you so fervently 'support'. The less said about the whole affair, the better.
Joe Saliba put together a string of successes for the party - you still have to prove yourself. There is still time to back fill the already deep hole you put yourself into, so stop digging.
No official, candidate or indeed an MP is larger than the Party - keep that in mind. You may have done nothing illegal or even unethical, except you did not put all your cards on the table and failing to do so, you raised suspicion.
Let go, bury the past and look forward to becoming more useful to the Nation and to the Nationalist Party!
The less you speak the more you succeed !...its time for you to leave Malta once & for all !
JPO has to be thankful for three things:
1) The mind boggling political incompetence of Dr Sant and Jason Micallef who completely mishandled the gift of the JPO affair in the final days of the last election.
2) The brilliance of Joe Saliba in totally out-psyching Alfred Sant in particular and somehow managed to keep the GonziPN show on the road for a whole week when in practically any other election in any other circumstances what JPO had done would have totally sunk the chances of the PN getting re-elected.
3) Those unfortunate professionals who faced police investigations and criminal trials associated with the JPO affair.
This part is the most important from the whole report.
about the high cost of electricity bills and dr gonzi telling us that tarifs have to go up jpo
we are allready on our knees
What you really need to do, is admit that you have acted unethically when you were pursuing the application which would eventually lead to benefiting your own pocket and destroying the environment. Seriously, don't you feel that an MP who has in the past worked for the environment, betrayed us ?
JUST APOLOGIZE ONCE AND FOR ALL! The more you keep on countering your wrong , the more you are repelling the people. You should have NEVER EVER accepted your site to be a disco let alone pursue the progress of the application.
Let Jeffrey be he is not guilty of anything, he is only a victim of our irresponsible media.
For me,the more he speak,the more is his politcal carrer coming to an end.
JPO should have given a copy of the contract volontarily to Gonzi .
Still I believe that he should have had a permit , adjacent to a full developement which was pushed forward by the present MEPA auditor.
Ordinary citizens don't phone or meet with Mepa people personally to check about development applications of third parties with whom they were doing business.
of what Joe Saliba done to our party.We are allready living his great loss in our party.
I, think it is better for you to stop mentioning this mistra affair,and thank Joe, for the way he handled your caese before the election.
I, think we the voters are the loyal people within the PN.
Do not pretend to be angry MLP supporters, everyone knows you are not... remember that your job WILL ALWAYS be on the line, as was mine. Defend your own, or one day it will happen to you and NO ONE will defend you.
What massive development are you talking about? The huge restaurant next door? The MEPA Auditor's Sound Studio that he was going to build two doors down? Or JPO's trees and wooden platform? We all saw the plans on the times... there was NOTHING there, nothing to harm the surroundings... just the basic equivalent of a large canape on untouched soil... ON HIS LAND!!!
How about you get behind your own for a change? It's about time you stop pretending. The MLP supporters stopped commenting on this ages ago. stop fanning the invisible flames against him... there is no use. JPO, these people owe you the world. And everyone, PN supporters and MLP supporters alike respect you... the people love you... don't care about what 20 angry nationalists in an office are trying to do!
Cheap shot at one of your own PN. I used to vote PN, after witnessing what happened to JPO and to hundreds of PN supporters after the election, I know now I never want to be in his or their position... And I know a lot of people who feel the same way. I hope you get everything you rightly deserve JPO.
JPO. THis is your last term as a MP , better enjoy it mate.
Min qallek li il poplu intelligenti qed jemmnek sur galantom.
THEY USED YOU AND SOLD YOU. IT REMINDS ME OF THE STORY IN THE BIBLE OF JOSEPH BEING SOLD BY HIS OWN BROTHERS. YOU ARE AGAINST MOST OF GONZIPN POLICY. MALTA IS ASKING YOU,WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF POLITICS??
JOIN THE NEW NATIONAL MOVEMENT AND SAVE MALTA FROM DESTRUCTION.
Joe Saliba played a crucial part in winning the election for the Nationalist Party, and must have accepted JPO's candidature for Gonzipn..
JPO should be thankful to Joe Saliba for the exposure given; he did after all get elected on two districts under the Gonzipn tickets, even if he never got a Ministry like other canditated elected on one district.