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Greens: Dalli has duty of full disclosure, ‘Malta’s reputation at stake’
Alternattiva Demokratika call on former commissioner to disclose reasons for Bahamas trip
2 July 2013, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
AD chairperson Arnold Cassola
The chairperson of the green party Alternattiva Demokratika, Arnold Cassola, has called on former European Commissioner John Dalli to disclose the reason for his July 2012 trip to the Bahamas, for which he is denying having been there to transfer an alleged $100 million.
A story in the International Herald Tribune on Monday claimed Dalli left a conference in Cyprus to fly to the Bahamas between the 7-8 July, where he allegedly told a man - Barry Connor - that he was there to arrange a multi-million transfer.
FULL STORY International Herald Tribune reports alleged Bahamas money transfer
Dalli has denied having carried out the transfer, and said he was privately advising a philanthropic initiative, which he however claims is confidentially bound not to divulge.
"John Dalli must come clean and stop hiding behind confidentiality. In whose name was he acting in Bahamas? Why did his family rent an $8,000 a month villa there for three months? We need quick answers to this since Malta's reputation is at stake. John Dalli has the duty of full disclosure of the facts in the interest of Malta's reputation, irrespective of the course of action of OLAF," Cassola said in a statement.
Dalli was forced to resign from Commissioner in October 2012 when a report by the EU's anti-fraud agency OLAF claimed he was aware of an attempt to solicit a bribe of €60 million from Swedish Match, the producers of chewing tobacco snus, to reverse the EU's retail ban on snus. One man, Silvio Zammit, is charged with trading in influence and bribery in the Maltese courts; but the police have no intention of filing any charges against John Dalli.
"Malta's name and reputation were smeared last October when the snus issue came up. OLAF and Giovanni Kessler's bungling-up in the process have not helped at all. Now Malta's name is being smeared again and splashed the world over with the International Herald Tribune allegations.
"We need to know the real facts and to clear our country's name, even more so now that John Dalli is a special consultant for Malta's Prime Minister," Cassola said.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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Dr. Cassola dwar il famus kont bankarju fl-Isvizzera ta Austin Gatt ma tghid xejn?
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Dan Kazz-ola ma kienx jahdem mal-kummisarju Dalli fi Brussel. Ghalhekk bi dritt insaqsu lil Kazz-ola jekk qattx ra xi ghajn hazina mill-kummissarju Dalli sakemm dam fl-impjieg mieghu.
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Dr.Cassola brazenness is limitless. In the months that lead to the resignation of John Dalli from EU Commissioner Dr. Cassalo kept his mouth shut. The Greens were the most vociferous defenders of John Dalli . Alternattiva remained silent as the tomb.
Now on a new allegation against Dalli Cassola wants an explanation. Apart from the fact that he jumped the gun as John Dalli issued an explanation and invited more investigation. Now how come all this interest of Dr.Cassola in John Dalli? The answer is simple John Dalli is collaborating with the Labour government.
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Tabilhaqq Briffy. Kemm ghandu ghalxiex iwiegeb Dalli. Tiskanta hux, u dawn kollha saru meta kien ministru fil-gvernijiet ta Eddie u Gonzi. Il-kapijiet tieghu qatt ma kienu jafu xejn tghid? Insomma pattew qares tal-PN talli hallew kollox ghaddej ghal rihu.
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Dr cassola Why not ask greens MEP to ask Barroso and other high profile members at eu how many times since in office they have traveled to bahamas .
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@Dennis. L-eghlieqi diga ghazaqhom Gonzi meta afdah biex jirraprezenta lil Malta bhala kummissarju Ewropew. L-aqwa bidwi kien Gonzi u shabu, u dak li zera hasdu fid-9 ta Marzu. Issa nafu sew min huma l-basal u l-gdur.
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This guy is a myster! He says he's greener than green, but his political life has always been so usefull for bluer-than-blue PN! He says he's European, but his doublespeak full of innuendos and understatement make him sound very Magrebish!
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Fufa...Arnold Cassola ghandu kwalunkwe dritt jesprimi l-opinjoni tieghu daqsi u daqsek. Jew spicca l-freedom of expression minn Marzu 'l hawn? U x'fih hazing il-parir li ta Cassola lil Dalli? Dalli ghandu jikxef kollox and come clean ghax inkella in-nies bir-ragun jahsbu hazing fih. Dan il-bniedem ilu s-snin jaqla' go fih,jaghjruh b'huh, bli qal fuq Gaddafi, b'Johnny Cash, bil-miraklu tal-ilma jsir whiskey, bis-sapun, bid-Daewoo, b'Mater Dei u elf haga ohra. Fl-interess ta' Dalli li jghid il-verita kollha ghax mhux kulhadd qed jemmen certu kumbinazzjonijiet.
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@ Dennis. `Politika ta xibka ta hazen ` Ma x`biza !!! u xi twerwir !! Donnok drajt taht Gvern tal P.N. U TAF BIZZEJJED xi jfissru dawn il kliem .
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ma irrdx nidhol u nikkumenta jekk din l istorja hijiex ivvintata jew le,pero kif jihdru l affarijiet l ahjar li ghandu isir fl interess ta John Dalli u il gvern ghalissa sakemm din l istorja johorgu il fatti,ghandu jirtira mil kariga li tah ma Godfrey Farrugia
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Dalli has denied having carried out the transfer, and said he was privately advising a philanthropic initiative, which he however claims is confidentially bound not to divulge.- Johnny please tkompliex tipprova tilghaba tal-Vergni. Sewwa jghidu` Birds of the same feathers flock together. Mur kompli ghazaq ma Joseph Muscat. Fuq kollox dan ilu jghid kemm ihobb il-bdiewa, l-eghlieqi u l-animali. Mur ghax sibt ghalqa fertili digja mdemla tajjeb. Mur ha jikber iktar il-gdur, il-pastard u moghoz u bhejjem ma kullimkien. Din hija Malta taghna ta` JM.B`dawn il-kwalita ta` nies Malta immexxijja. Politika ta`xibka ta` hazen.
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Dr Cassala donnu irid ideffes subajh f'kollox. Mur gibu hu u l-partit tieghu gabu xi mitt elf vot. Dr Cassola agixxi skond id-daqs please.
