Fortina: Is the unanimous decision by the Parliamentary Audit Committee illegitimate?

After the Fortina Inquiry was published, three weeks ago the PN parliamentary group decided not to go to court to rescind the Fortina concession. Only the Attorney General, the State Advocate or a sitting MP have the power to go to court on such issues. Why the PN took such decision is unknown.

Yesterday, the Parliamentary Audit Committee unanimously agreed that all valuations carried out by NAO so far are either incomplete or not in line with Lands Authority’s laws.

Momentum Chairperson, Arnold Cassola, asks: “Why was this important discussion not held in parliament, but limited only to the Parliamentary Audit Committee? The President of this Parliamentary Committee, Minister Ian Borg, has a clear conflict of interest since he was the Minister for Lands when the concession was given to Fortina. One of the PN representatives on this five person committee, Darren Carabott, did not attend and was substituted by Ryan Callus.

But, even though he had originally voted against the Fortina concession in 2019,  Ryan Callus also has a clear conflict of interest, since he was on the Lands Authority Board of Governors, strongly criticised by the NAO Report. The PN should not have sent him on the Audit Committee yesterday. Two out of five members of the MPs who voted yesterday have a clear conflict of interest and do not declare it”.

And so, as in the Fort Chambray case, Parliament is deprived of an open discussion and vote. “Momentum asks that such discussions should involve a full parliamentary debate where each parliamentarian expresses her/himself with a vote, and those parliamentarians who have a conflict of interest declare it openly”, concluded Prof. Cassola.

There is hope, you can help!

Join Momentum and build a better Malta. Volunteer, donate, or subscribe today!