Businessman Dominic Micallef, the tenant of the land owned by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, told The Malta Independent yesterday that the Labour Party lost more than 100 votes due to the Mistra saga alone.

Mr Micallef, whose family are traditionally Labour supporters, said that at this year’s general election, many of his relatives and people he knows and employs, who normally vote for the MLP, either voted for the PN or did not vote at all.

So the Labour Party’s mud-slinging campaign against Dr Pullicino Orlando and the PN cost it more than 100 votes, a significant number considering the slim margin with which the Nationalist Party won the 8 March election.

The controversy erupted in the last week before the election when then MLP leader Alfred Sant alleged the involvement of Dr Pullicino Orlando in what was referred to as the Mistra scandal.

Mr Micallef explained that the Mistra night club (for which the outline development permit has been approved so far) is planned to be an exclusive club offering customers silver service; it would be similar to the club at level 22 of Portomaso Tower in St Julian’s, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Pullicino Orlando, who spoke about the Mistra saga towards the end of a speech he gave in Parliament and presented a copy of the Mistra development plan yesterday evening, rebutted Opposition Leader Alfred Sant’s speech in the House of Representatives in Monday.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Dr Pullicino Orlando insisted he never did anything wrong and never lied to anyone whenever he spoke about the Mistra development.

“Dr Sant was totally misinformed. The limits of decency have long been surpassed. He knew very well that the information he was given was manipulated by people with commercial interests,” he said.

Like he did before the election, the Nationalist MP again insisted he does not know the developer.

“I rented out the land to Mr Micallef, who in turn asked his cousin, Ian Sultana, to submit the development application. He did this because he feared that other businessmen would try to hinder the process if they realised that he was the one planning to open a night club in Mistra.

“I have nothing whatsoever to do with the development, but when Mr Micallef told me he planned to open a night club, I made sure that it was appropriate to the area,” said Dr Pullicino Orlando.

He explained that 56 per cent of the 2,200-square metre area would be landscaped and more than half of the cultivated area would include indigenous trees.

There will be a 740-square metre paved area and a slightly raised structure (1.3 metres above the ground) with timber flooring.

Dr Pullicino Orlando pointed out that the architect responsible for the development told him the area would be able to house between 400 and 500 people, when you consider tables and chairs that will also be placed in the area.

“At most, 600 people would fit and they wouldn’t be comfortable, so these figures are very different to the 4,000, and later 8,000 people that Dr Sant spoke about,” said Dr Pullicino Orlando.

He added that the developers plan to use what is referred to as a state-of-the-art focused sound system, similar to the ones used during events held at the Colosseum in Rome, for example.

“I think the area will be improved and I honestly believe Mistra is ideal for this type of development, considering its distance from inhabited areas. Besides, the focused sound system would mean that sound would be able to be focused on the dance floor alone. Even people sitting at a table, or standing at the bar would not be disturbed by loud sound,” he said.

Moreover, said Dr Pullicino Orlando, both Sam Mifsud, the chairman of the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) and Labour spokesman for tourism Evarist Bartolo have spoken about the need to give a new lease of life to the northern part of the island.

While Mr Mifsud himself said “St Paul’s Bay needs a disco”, Mr Bartolo criticised the government for not showing any commitment to give new life to Bugibba, St Paul’s Bay, Qawra and Xemxija.

Dr Pullicino Orlando went on to criticise Joe Falzon, auditor of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), referring to him as a hypocrite.

“Mr Falzon himself guided the applicant who developed a restaurant, pizzeria and recording studio in Mistra,” he said.

The Nationalist MP added that when he was questioned by police, they told him the interrogation was not about corruption, but about undue pressure.

“I’ve been in Parliament since 1996 and I’ve always wanted to do my bit by serving constituents equally. I never did anything illegally and certainly nothing more than other MPs do. I do not have high political expectations,” said Dr Pullicino Orlando.

He added that the land he bought and rented in Mistra was done legally. “Every cent has been accounted for and I deny having done anything wrong”, he said.