You have to be incredibly conceited and awfully confused to conclude that presenting a popular TV programme makes you infallible and a model of integrity. Yet that is precisely what Lou Bondi has done. In his article “Go back to your playpen” (TMIS, 30 October) the former PN spin doctor made the unfounded and illogical claim that he is always right because he is constantly being judged by his television viewers who give him the thumbs up by switching on the box. Follow Lou’s line of reasoning further and you’ll come to the conclusion that soap or porn stars are the most infallible people on the planet. So, yes, Lou can be wrong even if he is as popular as John Bobbitt.
In the present case regarding Mark Causon, Lou is definitely wrong, having been sold a load of cobblers by the muddling MEPA. The facts, which can be easily verified with a quick look at publicly accessible documents are as follows: Mark Causon, environmental spokesman for AD, voiced his concern about the bulldozing of a site in Hamrun where culturally sensitive remains are located. So did the next door neighbours. The touchy people at MEPA retaliated by disclosing the fact that the neighbours had an irregular aluminium balcony and that a stop and enforcement notice had been served on Mark Causon.
In a MEPA press release, Sylvana Debono clearly stated that the enforcement notice is numbered 718/03. She went on to say that Mark had continued with the work despite the serving of this notice. Sylvana Debono was wrong. Enforcement order 718/03 refers to St Francis Street, Rabat, which is not Mark’s property. To date, there is no enforcement notice referring to Mark’s property in Hospital Street, Rabat, or to any other property that belongs to him. He cannot be expected to comply with notices that do not refer to his property. The enforcement notice in question, which has somehow found its way into his file, clearly indicates that it refers to a site in St Francis Street, and the site plan on the back of the notice shows the same site.
Could it be a simple mix-up with the address being the only detail indicated incorrectly? Hardly. The enforcement notice mentions “Hacking of the façade” as one of the illegal developments carried out. Any casual passer-by can see that there has been no such hacking or damage to the façade. It is more than evident that the enforcement notice was meant for someone else.
Incidentally, Mark had written to MEPA on two occasions pointing out the mistake. If there had been sufficient grounds for the issue of a valid enforcement notice on Mark’s property, MEPA could have gone ahead and issued it. The fact that no such notice was issued is proof enough that Mark did not commit the environmental atrocities that MEPA claims it knows he did.
The truth of the matter is quite simple. MEPA and Lou both desperately wanted a “Causongate”. A public institution was ready to lynch an individual who dared raise his objections to a particularly sensitive site. And Lou? He has an allergic reaction to anything other than PN-propaganda pieces and still slavishly tries to attack any credible opponents of his former political masters. He particularly dislikes anything to do with AD, because he realises that it is everything his party is not. He has made so much mileage out of a libel case he won against AD 11 years ago, that he is badly in need of a spin service. He thought his day had come with this case. Unfortunately the super-sleuth of “Gurnalizmu fuq Kollox” did not bother to check any of the facts before rushing into print. Lou Bondi prides himself on having made it out of the political playpen. He’s now trying to make it as the playground bully. Unfortunately he’s taken up MEPA’s dirty, nappy-soiled rattle as a weapon with which to try and thump AD into oblivion. He’s going to have to try much harder.
As regards the varied and miscellaneous insults in Lou Bondi’s article, all I have to say is that, unlike him, I do not have delusions of grandeur nor an ego larger than the Vatican dome. Unlike Mr Bondi, I do not depend on government contracts and programmes on State television for my livelihood. Thank God, I work in the private sector and do not need to suck up to anyone for anything because it is merit that counts where I work and not connections. I do what I do and say what I say out of conviction, irrespective of any consequences, not out of a need to please someone, least of all people like Mr Bondi!
Ralph Cassar is spokesperson and executive committee member of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party. [email protected]