De Marco defends PN whip over Gozo contractor email

PN in push to win St Paul's Bay in council elections * Video by Ray Attard

PN deputy leader Mario de Marco defended David Agius over an email the whip received from a Gozo contractor complaining over three important jobs he had carried out but was not paid for in the village of Gharb, before the 2013 elections. According to the whistleblower, the works were carried out “for the mayor”.

In an email date 22 November 2013, Agius wrote to the whistleblower that he would investigate and revert. It however transpires that Agius never made contact.

Agius this morning however reiterated that cases in question were “public projects”. De Marco also said that the party’s whip did nothing wrong by not informing the party of the email he had received from the contractor.

He added that, if anything, the government should now pay for the works since there has been a change in administration.

The projects mentioned by the whistleblower included excavation works and concrete laying at a football ground for Gharb’s school and the construction of a platform over the valley’s entrance.

The Gozitan contractor, who is in his fifties, is the first recognised whistleblower since the Whistleblowers’ Act came into being.

His story, which was revealed in MaltaToday, relates to works he carried out for then Minister Giovanna Debono’s husband.

MaltaToday had reported that the costs for the works were being financed by the Gozo ministry.

The contractor was not paid for his works in spite of being told to invoice for other projects which fell under the remit of the Ministry of Gozo.

Diversity presents unique challenges to growing St. Paul’s Bay community  - de Marco

A growing and diverse community in St Paul’s Bay presented the locality with unique challenges for the community’s council , PN deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco said.

Addressing a press conference next to the Wignacourt Tower in St Paul’s Bay, de Marco said the locality could boast of numerous visits by tourists but lack of action by the current council with a Labour majority was leaving the locality in a dilapidated state.

“The local council entrusted with this area has a very great responsibility and, ever since 2012, there have been numerous projects left undone and an even greater number of disputes between the Labour councillors, which ultimately led to the resignation of various council members,” de Marco said.

St Paul's bay is the second largest locality on the Maltese islands, encompassing some 120,000 people, including around 9,000 foreigners. De Marco said the figures made the locality one of the most dynamic and unique, facing all sorts of social challenges that make it different from other localities.

De Marco pointed out that the locality hosts a large number of tourists every year, as well as people who visit the area solely for the summer months along with its permanent inhabitants.

“Because of the large concentration of tourists, the area presents a very strong contribution to the country’s economy, with its extensive bars, restaurants and hotels,” he said adding that this made it an important area to the nation as a whole.

De Marco said the locality had been promised playground near the St. Paul’s Bay primary school, as well as a public garden near the housing estate in the area, among other projects.

Looking back at what the locality had enjoyed under a PN-led council, de Marco said the council had ensured the provision of funds for various projects that have now come to full fruition.

“A PN majority had secured EU funds for the restructuring of the Promenade right beneath Wignacourt tower, as well as the restoration of the tower itself thanks to a partnership between the Malta Tourism Authority and Din l-Art Helwa,” he said, adding that other achievements included the National Aquarium and beautification of areas like Fra Ben in Qawra and the Salini area.

Spokesperson for local councils David Agius said that the mixture of candidates being put forward by the PN represented a wide diversity of ideas that would be instrumental for a locality as big as St. Paul’s Bay, which includes Qawra, Bugibba, Burmarrad and even Xemxija.

“We are also aware of the lack of finances issue that all local councils are being plagued with, and we have a number of suggestions to tackle this issue, including, the redirection of a portion of existing licenses like car licenses, straight to local councils among others,” Agius explained.