Evarist Bartolo Slams PBS For Not Covering Labour Mayors Attending Valletta Environmental Protest
A former PL minister has questioned the lack of PBS coverage on PL mayors’ participation in a recent major environmental protest.
“If anyone finds Conrad Borg Manché, the mayor of Gżira, and Paul Buttigieg, the mayor of Qala, please inform the PBS newsroom first,” Evarist Bartolo said online.
His words come after two PL mayors – Conrad Borg Manche, the mayor of Gzira, and Paul Buttigieg, the mayor of Qala – attended Xebbajtuna, a protest that saw thousands marching in Valletta against continues state policies destroying the island’s environment.
Bartolo slammed the lack of coverage given by state media Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) to these errant PL councillors.
During the demonstration, the PL mayors gave impassioned speeches about the need to change our ways before we destroy our country; however, there was no indication that they attended on Malta’s public broadcaster, with no footage from their speeches nor any follow up interview shown.
Here’s a translation of the whole post:
Good day.
If anyone finds Conrad Borg Manche, the mayor of Gzira, and Paul Buttigieg, the mayor of Qala, please inform the PBS newsroom first. The last time they were seen, both Labour Party mayors were at the national protest ‘Xebbajtuna’ last Saturday.
They, among other speakers, talked about the excessive construction that is happening and is damaging our country. PBS did not interview or show Conrad and Paul speaking, and they did not report that they were present at the protest.
They have been sought since Saturday to be interviewed but have not been found. Any assistance to locate them would be appreciated by PBS.
Good health and peace.
This is just the latest incidence of impartiality displayed by the national broadcaster.
In 2021, Lovin Malta and former CEO Chris Peregin filed a constitutional case challenging the constitutionality of a proviso in the Broadcasting Act which allows the regulator not to monitor political party-owned TV stations for impartiality.
In practice, this has seen the BA continue to regulate TVM for political impartiality but not apply the same principles to ONE and NET.
This proviso allows the BA to monitor impartiality among private TV stations “by looking at the general output of current affairs programmes across all licensees as a whole”.
A website, Kaxxaturi.com, has been set up to explain the details of the case and why Lovin Malta decided to open it in the first place.
What do you make of these “disappeared” mayors?
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