Duplicity

Published on the Malta Independent on Sunday 20th June, 2010 by James A. Tyrrell.

Dr Raymond C. Xerri has stated in the press that he was never a member of or supported the Save Hondoq Movement and has demanded, no less, that this is made clear. Now even as a foreigner I know this to be untrue. He had always stated in the past that he was opposed to the development project at Hondoq, so why the sudden change of heart?

A couple of reasons come to mind. Firstly, his father has been trying unsuccessfully to develop his belvedere property for years now but the application was always turned down. This finally became possible when the Local Plan changed and unaccountably declared that two houses were a ‘hamlet’, a designation refused to much larger communities! Because of this, the development application was granted. I’m sure Ray was really grateful, and what better way to show his appreciation than to support the government stance on the Hondoq project. He also stated that the building had nothing to do with him but belonged to his brothers and parents and he had no share in it. Obviously, he must be an outcast within his own family in the same way that he is an outcast with the people of his constituency, although, according to his father, the buildings and land were an investment for all his family.

Secondly, we know that Dr Xerri is not accepted as a PN person due to the court case years ago, which resulted in his suspension from the party. Since he knows that the PN are backing the Hondoq project, is it possible that he is trying to get back into their good books and therefore stand a better chance of being accepted back into the party by taking their side in the argument?

Dr Xerri stated at the public consultation that one of the reasons he was supporting the development was because it would be creating jobs for Gozo. He has obviously forgotten the promises made for the township of deluxe apartments built within the fortifications of Fort Chambray, the Mgarr Hotel and the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, all of which promised lots of jobs for the local people and failed miserably to fulfil those promises.

I found it funny when he stated at the consultation that, according to his diary last year, he went to Hondoq exactly 16 times. I mean how many people record every time they go to Hondoq in their diary? Makes you wonder how many other interesting little snippets he has in there – toenail cutting sessions, toilet visits etc. But then I suppose he has a lot of time on his hands since he has a job doing nothing at the Gozo University at Xewkija.

His own constituents do not trust Dr Raymond C. Xerri, he has been thrown out of the PN, does not enjoy good working relations with his co-workers at the university and is not trusted in the council of which he is a member. It would appear that Dr Xerri’s credibility is at an all time low and this about turn is his attempt at trying to climb the greasy pole once again.