Falzon insinuates gross past abuse but mentions no names

Parliamentary secretary for planning Michael Falzon said he would “publish his own book on ethics” in a sarcastic and sneaky speech on Opposition MPs.

Falzon started outlining ‘chapters’ of his book, each detailing alleged acts of gross abuse in the public sector by high officials under previous Nationalist administrations.

He told MPs his book would have two ‘version’, one for the public and the other “handed to the people who need to know about it”.

In his speech in parliament during a Budget debate in parliament, Falzon mentioned allegations of unethical behaviour in the medical and legal professions – his dig at various MPs who are professionals – “systems of organised espionage”, ostensibly referring to recent email leaks between the PN and civil servants, and millions spent in dubious direct orders.

He alleged that one MP was gifted a car by an unidentified donor, for his daughter – but did not venture any further than the insinuation.

He rejected criticism that the Labour government had underhandedly renewed an encroachment permit allowing for the extension of the lease of the Siggiewi PL party club.

Siggiewi’s Nationalist mayor Karol Aquilina claims the local council needs the government building currently occupied by the Labour club to finalise the second phase of the adjacent civic centre that includes a night shelter for the elderly.

“The encroachment remained identical to the one granted to Labour by the previous administration, and indeed we’ve increased their rent,” Falzon said, while accusing the Siggiewi local council of planning abuses.

“The local council had been warned by MEPA for building and altering rooms without the necessary permits, and it had illegally installed electricity meters that had been removed by Enemalta.”

He also hit out at how the Nationalist Party had gained control of the site that it is now its Ta’ Xbiex band club on a temporary emphyteusis basis. He claimed that the Lands Commissioner had slashed the land’s value from a Lm480,000 annual ground rent to Lm60,000 just prior to the government releasing a tender for the use of the public land, that was “wonder of wonders” won by the PN for the usage of a party club.

BOV’s House of Four Winds lease extension a ‘€4.6 million premium’

In response to criticism from the Opposition benches, Falzon defended his controversial involvement in negotiations with Bank of Valletta to extend his former employer’s lease of their House of Four Winds Valletta premises from a 40 year to a 65-year temporary emphyteusis.

He described the €4.6 million extension cost as a “premium that the public will enjoy” and denied allegations that the extension was carried out illegally and that he had a conflict of interest in the negotaitions.

In an earlier speech, Opposition MP Ryan Callus described the lease extension as a “scandal” , citing the law as saying that such conversions are only permitted through a parliamentary resolution or following the issuance of a public tender.

Moreover, he pointed out that Falzon himself was involved in negotiations with BOV in his capacity as parliamentary secretary while at the same time discussing an early retirement package from the same bank.

“It’s a coincidence that has left us with doubts about a potential conflict of interest,” he said. “Falzon has a choice; he can either revoke the illegal deal, call for a parliamentary resolution, or issue a public tender,” he said.