Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1185664
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 17 NOVEMBER 2019 䘀漀爀 洀漀爀攀 椀渀昀漀Ⰰ 瀀氀攀愀猀攀 挀漀渀琀愀挀琀 甀猀 漀渀 㨀 䔀㨀 椀渀昀漀⸀眀猀䀀眀愀猀琀攀猀攀爀瘀洀愀氀琀愀⸀挀漀洀 䘀爀攀攀瀀栀漀渀攀㨀 㠀 㜀㈀㈀ 眀眀眀⸀眀愀猀琀攀猀攀爀瘀洀愀氀琀愀⸀挀漀洀 愀 갠㔀 瘀漀甀挀栀攀爀 昀爀漀洀 圀䤀一 'Keith Schembri is corrupt… now come and sue us all gustuz' KURT SANSONE KEITH Schembri was put on notice yes- terday by blogger Manuel Delia, who told anti-corruption protestors there is more about the Prime Minister's chief- of-staff to be known. Delia was addressing thousands of people who gathered in Valletta for an anti-corruption protest organised by Repubblika and Occupy Justice. "Keith Schembri does not know how much we know about him," Delia told the cheering crowd. And he continued: "Keith Schembri knows that we will find out more about him… Keith Schembri is corrupt. Keith Schembri is corrupt. Now come and file a defamation suit against us all gustuż." Manuel Delia did not hold back the punches and pointed an accusing finger at Joseph Muscat for defending Schem- bri. "Why does the Prime Minister defend Schembri? I don't believe Joseph Muscat knows what is happening in the magis- terial inquiry but he knows what Keith Schembri knows. He knows what the business between 17 Black and Mac- bridge is… and who owns the company Egrant… What the fuck, Joe?" Delia said to resounding applause. The crowd carried placards decrying corruption and denouncing Schembri. People called for justice and shouted "Out! Out! Out!". The protest formed part of the month- ly vigil in Valletta held to commemorate Daphne Caruana Galizia. It followed Schembri's decision in court last week to withdraw libel proceedings against former Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil after refusing to answer ques- tions on 17 Black. The crowd applauded each time Busut- til's name was mentioned, with Manuel Delia describing the court developments as a victory for the former PN leader. The protest was attended by PN leader Adrian Delia who walked with his secre- tary general Clyde Puli and a few other party officials. Busuttil was also present for the protest but did not walk with the party leader. Alternattiva Demokratika and the Democratic Party also attended the pro- test. Caruana Galizia's parents and rela- tives were also present. Manuel Delia urged people not to lose hope. "Truth will win. Let us not get lost looking for the splinter in each other's eye, while those in Castille rub the beam in their eyes," Delia said, calling for uni- ty. His call for unity was repeated by for- mer PN executive president Mark An- thony Sammut, who called on people to set aside their egos and work together for justice. Sammut had resigned his post on the executive after the PN lost at the polls last May and also formed part of the group that pushed for a vote of no con- fidence in the party leader. Sammut urged Labour MPs to vote according to their conscience when the Opposition's motion asking the Prime Minister to remove Schembri comes up for a vote. "I know it is hard but no honoraria can stand in the way of doing what is right," he said. Vickie Ann Cremona, who heads the NGO Repubblika, said Schembri en- tered court "like a lion" but exited like "a scared mouse". She accused One TV presenter Karl Stagno Navarra, without mentioning him by name, of manipulating the news of what happened in court. "We do not swallow everything like he does from those who pay him," Cremona said. She called on people to continue pro- testing and raising their voice. "We will not give up," she said to applause. Manuel Delia PN secretary general Clyde Puli with party leader Adrian Delia