Marsascala councillor resigns from PN, claims party ‘no longer’ his place

A Marsascala local councillor has resigned from the Nationalist Party, claiming he no longer feels part of the PN.

Charlot Cassar (photo inset), who had been prominent in the fight for Zonqor land to remain in pristine condition at the time the American University of Malta was being given land to develop as a campus, said that his primary obligation is to be guided by what is good and right for the people he serves.

“To achieve this aim, I must be primarily loyal to my values of honest, loyalty, transparency and accountability,” he said.

With this in mind, “I no longer feel my place is with the PN,” he said.

Cassar resigned from the party but will continue to serve the local council as an independent member.

Cassar was the man to suggest that the PN file a motion in Parliament for a debate to take place on whether the government should take back the 18,000sqm of Outside Development Zone (ODZ) land and give it back to the people. He called on his former party to do this back in December 2017. It was eventually filed and MP’s battled it out in a plenary debate.

In addition, Cassar was also instrumental in applying pressure to see that the dilapidated and abandoned Jerma Hotel in Marsascala. The once thriving establishment has now been left to ruins, and multiple proposals have been made to the Planning Authority and presented to the Marsascala local council.

Cassar objected to the dilapidated site to be turned into another hotel or residential block, and called for the government to buy back the property and it be turned into an open space.

PN Officials react

Former PN leadership contender Alex Perici Calascione who has been deeply involved with the party for years, yesterday wrote that he feels it is only right to publically express his gratitude to Cassar for the work he has carried out “sincerely and consistently within the PN”.

He commended Cassar particularly for his work to save the land at Zonqor.

Deputy speaker Claudette Buttigieg publically echoed Perici Calascione’s sentiment and expressed her gratitude.

PN MP Karol Aquilina regretted that the party lost someone who worked so hard for social justice and environmental issues, and remarked at what a “genuine” person Cassar is.

While not mentioning any names, PN MP Mario Galea also uploaded a comment which was seemingly aimed at Cassar.

“Leader Adrian Delia has again placed the PN as the true party of the people. Many… people who left the party have started to come back.

“Naturally there are thousands of Nationalists who are enjoying this success. A few, a very few, can’t bear to accept it (qed jinharqu).”