The PN Shadow Minister for Energy, Environment and Transport Marthese Portelli yesterday filed a case of breach of privilege against Transport Minister Joe Mizzi after the latter refused to withdraw allegations made against her in Parliament.
The argument broke out after Dr Portelli asked Mr Mizzi to state what the government’s policy on road maintenance was and which roads would be resurfaced in July and August. The Minister curtly replied: “The ones you (the PN) did not do.” This led to an outburst of laughing and clapping by several government MPs.
Dr Portelli rebutted that the PN had a better track record on roadworks. She complained about the ongoing Coast Road works and the Kappara Junction project, which has not yet started. She also asked whether it was true that TM is now allowing its main contractors to subcontract road maintenance works. Are these subcontractors being certified by TM?
“Certainly not how things were done before, when a number of abuses took place,” the Minister replied. He said things were being done by the book. The government was also using new systems, including in Bahar ic-Caghaq, where roadworks started simultaneously from both ends of the road. Works are continuing at night and the cement is being checked, he said.
He said the government found many roads in a bad state. The PN’s report on the 2013 electoral defeat also mentioned that the PN had lost control over the sector. Reacting to an interruption by Dr Portelli, Mr Mizzi told her to “shut your mouth,” claiming that she got paid for meetings she did not attend. “You are not one to talk,” he said.
He was referring to a 2013 report which claimed that Dr Portelli was given Gozo travel allowance when she was a director at Wasteserv despite not attending most of the board meetings. Environment Minister Leo Brincat had later clarified that her travelling allowance was unrelated to her Gozitan residency. She had also claimed that it was not conditional on attendance of board meetings.
Dr Portelli raised a point of order, telling the speaker that Mr Mizzi had made a false allegation. She asked him to substantiate his allegation or else withdraw it. Mr Mizzi insisted that she had been paid for a number of meetings she had not attended.
Marthese Portelli insisted that the information was incorrect and noted that Mr Mizzi’s cabinet colleague, Leo Brincat, had given an altogether different version. “I will not withdraw anything. If you are woman enough you should bring us the proof to substantiate your denial,” Mr Mizzi insisted.
Dr Portelli said Mr Mizzi was trying to throw mud at her in an attempt to silence her because he felt uncomfortable answering some of her PQs. When she warned the Minister that she would be reserving her right to take further steps if he did not retract his allegation, Mr Mizzi replied: “No one is holding you back.”
After a brief intervention by Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, who told the Speaker that the house could not just continue with business as usual in light of the serious allegations made by Mr Mizzi, which he refused to retract, Dr Portelli filed a breach of privilege against the Transport Minister.