Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday stated that PN candidate Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando knew about the development permit for the disco because he received a registered letter from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
During one of the MLP’s last trips on il-coach tal-bidla, that stopped at Senglea, Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Kalkara, Dr Sant distributed a Mepa document, dated 12 December 2007, that stated that Dr Pullicino Orlando had received a registered letter informing him, as the owner of land, of a development permit.
The document, titled Certificate of Ownership B, simply shows that Dr Pullicino Orlando received a registered letter last December but does not state which development application it refers to.
Dr Sant said that Dr Pullicino Orlando could no longer claim that he did not know anything about the application as he had been informed through this document.
The Opposition Leader was warmly welcomed at all the four cities of Cottonera with large crowds waving red flags and fireworks let off. Incidentally, il-coach tal-bidla had a new image – instead of the young ballerina, there was a large photo of a young girl looking back over her shoulder.
Dr Sant told the Labour supporters that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi promised to replace his ministers. “However, the new ministers will include people like Dr Pullicino Orlando.”
He explained to the crowds that the permit authorised the development of a large disco called Spin Valley and referred to what happened earlier in the afternoon during the recording of a Broadcasting Authority programme.
“Dr Pullicino Orlando had the cheek to come to a programme where I had to answer questions by journalists. At the last minute, he replaced a PN journalist,” said Dr Sant.
He was defended by the prime minister’s right hand – PN secretary-general Joe Saliba – who said that Dr Pullicino Orlando came to defend Dr Gonzi, he said to a booing crowd.
“The Prime Minister caretaker is expired if he sends Dr Pullicino Orlando to defend him,” he said.
The Opposition Leader said that these were desperate measures with the aim to provoke the Labour Party but added that he will not respond to these provocations.
“If he wants to speak then Dr Pullicino Orlando can go on Net TV or to one of the PN mass meetings,” he said.
Dr Sant criticised the recently appointed head of news of PBS and said that the state television is also controlled by the government.