From Mr J. Mizzi

I refer to your article “Veteran journalist loses yet another Sir Paul Boffa libel case” (TMIS, 23 November) which might have given the impression that I have been conducting a campaign against him – which is certainly not the case. You reported yet another judgement that is repetitive in a case, which has been prolonged since 1994 and with which I vehemently disagree. This concerns the single-minded interpretation of a sentence in a letter I wrote to The Sunday Times of Malta describing the opposition to a yacht marina at Xemxija where I said en passant, “After the war during the administration of Dr Boffa, permission was given for buildings to be erected on the northern part of the bay because Dr Boffa wanted to build there...” Nowhere did I say he wanted to build his own property. This was at a time when the authorities were encouraging people to build to make up for the severe losses that had resulted from the heavy bombing and those who did so were being given full support. The Labour Administration was, at that time, discussing with the oil company British-Petroleum the building of a shipbuilding yard in that area. Nowhere, simply nowhere, did I impute any personal motives to Dr Boffa nor was it my intention, but referred to him as the prime minister and head of the administration which was encouraging the construction of houses in general all over the island.

As I certainly had no intention of casting any adverse imputation on Dr Boffa, and I made that clear in court, I feel most strongly about the judgements which in no way reflect that I had no intention of casting any aspersions on him, and do not uphold my professional dignity and self-esteem.

For your readers’ information, there is now a further pending appeal of mine before the Constitutional Court on an issue I will take further if need be.

John Mizzi

ST PAUL’S BAY