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I write for and behalf of Mario Calleja in his capacity as Mayor of the Marsascala Local Council.
My client finds offence with the words used both in the title of the article and its substance when you stated “Political parties gang up to stifle Josie Muscat”.
My client would like to inform you that this is definitely not the case. As a point of fact you are to be made aware of the fact that in order to create more cordiality and cooperation within the council, the responsibilities for tourism were originally handed over to the said Dr Josie Muscat since he had expressed an interest in taking responsibility for this area. In fact the deputy mayor Owen Bonnici to whom tourism was originally assigned to, went so far as to renounce this portfolio in favour of Josie Muscat.
The issue which led to Muscat being censored emerged from a particular incident. It seems that Muscat, without informing the said Mayor or council took the initiative to meet on his own with l-Assocjazzjoni tal-Hwienet u Ristoranti. Josie Muscat was aware of the fact that the council had decided that dealing with this association was to be part of the portfolio of the Mayor himself. Thus the council felt it should censor Muscat’s action since it felt he acted in an unethical manner. The fact that Josie Muscat does not pertain to one of the major political parties had no significance in the matter.
Dr Veronique Dalli
Valletta
Editorial note:
The article to which Mr Calleja finds offence had reported the facts that led to Dr Josie Muscat being censored by the same council. Mr Calleja does not deny the facts as reported in the story. The reference to political parties is fair comment.
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