In a miserable attempt at recovering from the authentic slap in the face that is the National Audit Office (NAO) report about the Pembroke monstrosity, DB Group is mounting a PR counteroffensive. Expect them to say that the NAO report absolves them from any accusation or allegation, that the Auditor General found no irregularity in the price of the land in Pembroke, and that the group has committed no illegality. Basically, they’re washing their hands like an authentic concrete Pilate.
They ignore, however, a very important fact: that the NAO inquiry has been hindered by a “lack of information” and details about the negotiations between Government and DB itself. Had there been nothing untoward in the whole process, there would have been no need for this systematic obfuscation of facts from public scrutiny. As regards the very same process, the Auditor General’s condemnation is clear and categorical.
From the same report it is also very clear that the deal will cost a huge amount of money to the State, wherein the sale of the land in Pembroke (which DB will pay in instalments) does not cover the €75m spent for ITS’ transfer to Smart City. In meantime, government has also spent another €2m for ITS’ temporary relocation to Luqa. We can only conclude that either government doesn’t have people skilled in simple mathematics negotiating on its behalf, or else they have been working to ta favour someone else’s interests. At the agreed prices, it is clear that neither Government’s nor the citizens’ interests have been safeguarded.
DB may play the victim card as it pleases and accuse residents, NGOs and journalists of “malice” whenever these issues are pointed out. What stands out as malicious is this whole saga from top to bottom. There is enough proof for this contract to be revoked, and for the investigation of numerous personnel involved in this scandal.
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Ross bil-labra
Fit-tentattiv fjakk li jiġbru ġieħhom mid-daqqa ta’ ħarta li tahom ir-rapport tal-NAO dwar il-mostru ta’ Pembroke, id-DB Group qed tibni kontroffensiva permezz tar-relazzjonijiet pubbliċi. Se jgħidu li r-rapport tal-NAO jeħles lil DB minn kull akkuża, li l-Awditur Ġenerali ma sab ebda irregolarità fil-prezz u li mkien ma jissemmew irregolaritajiet imwettqa mill-grupp. Bażikament, ħaslu idejhom u ddikjaraw ruħhom innoċenti bħal Pilatijiet tal-konkrit.
Madankollu, id-DB qed jinjoraw fatt importanti ħafna: li l-inkjesta tal-NAO kienet imxekkla min-“nuqqas ta’ informazzjoni” u dettalji dwar in-negozjati li saru bejn Gvern u DB. Kieku ma hemm xejn ħażin fil-proċess, ma kienx ikun hemm bżonn dan il-ħabi sistematiku ta’ fatti minn għajnejn il-pubbliku. U, fir-rigward tal-proċess innifsu, il-kundanna fir-rapport tal-Awditur Ġenerali hija kategorika.
Joħroġ ukoll, mill-istess rapport, li l-Gvern kien qed jitlef somom kbar b’din l-operazzjoni kollha, fejn biegħ l-art ta’ Pembroke (DB se jħallsuha bin-nifs) u nefaq €75m biex l-ITS ibewweġ lejn Smart City. Sadanittant, kellu jonfoq ukoll €2m oħra għal rikolazzjoni temporanja tal-ITS f’Ħal Luqa. Allura, jew min kien qed jinnegozja f’isem il-Gvern huwa batut fil-matematika, jew kien qed jaġevola l-interessi ta’ xi ħadd. In-negozjati bil-prezzijiet miftiehma żgur li ma sarux fl-aħjar interess la tal-Gvern, u lanqas tal-poplu.
Id-DB tista’ tilgħabha tal-vittma kemm trid u toqgħod takkuża lir-residenti, NGOs, u ġurnalisti b’“malizzja” għax isemmu dawn il-kontradizzjonijiet. Li żgur huwa malizzjuż huwa dak kollu li rajna f’din is-saga. Bla dubju hemm biżżejjed provi biex dan il-kuntratt jitħassar, u biex isiru investigazzjonijiet fuq bosta persunaġġi involuti.
