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Karl Schembri
The Prime Minister yesterday revealed he had urged heritage watchdog Din l-Art Helwa to dissociate itself publicly from a poster carried at the environment rally organised by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar two weeks ago in Valletta equating Environment Minister George Pullicino with Lorry Sant.
Replying to questions at yesterday’s press briefing, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that in a meeting he had with the NGO scheduled before the rally, the leader had expressed his disapproval of the poster in question carried by columnist Claire Bonello.
“I told him that by telling me he was dissociating himself from the poster in private had no value, and I’m informed that NGOs wrote a letter to The Times that was meant to be published today, stating that the poster was unfair, but there was pressure that led to the letter being withdrawn. I would like to know who put this pressure because this is serious.”
Gonzi denied however that he blackmailed the NGO with holding it from managing a nature reserve, as alleged by Alternattiva Chairman Harry Vassallo in an opinion article published on The Times Friday.
“In fact for the first time we discussed a management agreement about a national heritage park,” Gonzi said.
Contacted yesterday, Din l-Art Helwa President Martin Galea denied that his organisation had sent a letter to The Times.
“He (the prime minister) did want us to dissociate ourselves publicly but really it was beyond our control,” Galea said about the poster. “We’ve discussed it internally but if you ask me, it’s a political issue that is detracting us from the real issues at stake.”
Even The Times editor, Ray Bugeja, said that he did not receive any letter about the subject.
Galea said the meeting with the prime minister was scheduled two months in advance, with the Manikata road scheme, the management of a heritage park, and the Xaghra l-Hamra and Ta’ Cenc projects among the items on the agenda.
“I didn’t walk out under the impression we were blackmailed,” Galea said.
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