Nothing to say over heated exchange at Labour party club

The meeting was called by party president Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and was attended by members of the Marsaskala sectional committee and Labour MPs elected from the third district.

When contacted, George Vella reiterated criticism made during the meeting that Labour MPs are not receiving enough feedback from the Labour-led council.

“In a general sense, there can be better contact between members of Parliament and the council and we (the MPs) have lamented about this aspect.” When asked about the verbal confrontation with Calleja, he refused to comment on “internal matters of the party” and “things which happen within a Labour club”.

He also referred to “our Mediterranean temperament” when asked further on the incident. Marsaskala mayor Mario Calleja also refused to comment on the heated exchange with Vella. But he denied that the council was not informing Labour MPs on matters
effecting Marsaskala.

MaltaToday is informed that the verbal confrontation between the mayor and the Labour MP was not directly related to the theme of the meeting but centred on relationships between the council and the parliamentary group.

When asked specifically on the family park issue – which was supposed to be the main item of the meeting – the mayor confirmed that the council was unanimously in favour of the proposed family park as long as “basic principles” are respected.

The proposed family park is part of the planning conditions set in the MEPA permit as a planning gain to compensate the Marsaskala community for the construction of the plant.

On his part, Vella also confirmed that his party fully supports the proposed family park but expressed reservations on the lack of an
adequate health impact assessment on the Sant Antnin plant which would be sited next to the family park.

“My only concern is that because of shortcomings in the EIA process there are insufficient guarantees that people visiting the park won’t be exposed to particulate matter emitted from the plant.”

This lack of health and odour studies emerged from a draft report by MEPA auditor Joe Falzon published by his former assistant Carmel Cacopardo on the eve of the 2008 geneal elections.