Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/842553
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post PAGE 9 • Editorial WEDNESDAY • 28 JUNE 2017 • ISSUE 544 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PAGE 4 PAGE 3 PN Treasurer mulling leadership bid Former party secretary to contest PN leadership "We cannot be perceived as being the party which opposes for the sake of opposing... making peoples' life better will be our topmost priority" NATIONALIST MP Chris Said has confirmed he will be contesting the post of leader of the Nationalist Party, three days after Birkirkara FC president Adrian Delia announced his intention to contest. Said, 46, told this newspaper that he has the energy, motivation and political experience to bring together all those with the country and the par- ty at heart, to rebuild the party and reconnect it to the electorate. "If I am given the privilege to lead the Nationalist Party my main aim would be to make the Nation- alist Party a strong and relevant politi- cal force, a formidable Opposition and a credible government-in-waiting." Aware of the mammoth task ahead, Said is ready to roll up his sleeves. "The easiest thing at this stage would be to sit back and leave the task to others. But I have always refused to be an armchair critic. I'm rolling up my sleeves and in- viting all those who share my love for the country and the party to join me." Having climbed his way through all party structures and having served as Parliamentary Secretary, Minister and Secretary General, Said acknowledges that the new leader of the party needs to hit the ground running. "The task ahead is of epic propor- tions and there will be little time for running-in periods. If I'm elected party leader I'll be all in, from the very first day." Said is aware that expectations are high. "I'm very well aware of what's at stake for me and my family. I have no businesses to fall back on and no safety nets. I'm doing this because I love the party and, above all, I love my country. I'll be in it with all my determination, hard work and enthusiasm." As mayor of Nadur for almost 10 years, Said is credited with turning the local- ity around through an unprecedented wave of infrastructural, environmental, social and cultural projects. PAGE 3 Multiple dismissals at V18, Arts Council months before start of events YANNICK PACE A number of individuals holding positions within the Malta Arts Council and the V18 Foundation have been dismissed, or transferred to other departments, according to multiple industry sources. V18 programme coordinator Margerita Pule, executive director Karsten Xuereb, as well as Maren Richter – the curator of the main Visual Arts exhibition in the V18 cultural programme – have been dismissed from their roles within the foundation, six months before events are set to begin. In 2012, Valletta was chosen to be the 2018 European Capital of Cul- ture, with the city's bid and initial preparations taking place under the chairmanship of architect Da- vid Felice. In 2013, Felice was re- placed with current Jason Micallef who has successfully overseen preparations since his appoint- ment. MaltaToday could not indepen- dently verify whether all three had been dismissed and it is not yet clear what the reason behind each of the dismissals was, however both were with the V18 team from day one and are understood to be handling among the more impor- tant parts of the project. V18 executive director Karsten Xuereb Chris Said