The facts about VOM

I would like to refer to the article titled Proscenium Antics by Alfred Sant (August 2).

Dr Sant's article was based on half truths, insinuations and allegations which misinformed the readers. I am in a position to contradict Dr Sant's allegations by undeniable facts.

I will not enter into the merits of his opinion about me and my performance at Voice of the Mediterranean. I have my own opinion and he has his own and we can dispute opinions forever.

The following are the facts that are addressed to readers not only for their information but also for them to be able to reach their own conclusions after having the full picture.

Allegation: VOM's managing director attended the Venice Film Festival at company expense. VOM had nothing to do with films.

Facts: All my travel was approved by councilors A. Zarb and M. Spiteri. I participated in the 7th Euro-Mediterranean Cinema International Conference on the theme Audiovisual Communication And Interactivity: For A Dialogue Amongst Civilizations, organised by the Observatory for Cultural and Audio Visual Communication in the Mediterranean (OCCAM). VOM was a member of this organisation. I was invited as guest speaker at the conference which coincided with the international film festival in Venice.

OCCAM was set up by Unesco in 1997 and was granted special consultative status to the ECOSOC. The participants were broadcasters (television and radio), experts on mass communications media, and personalities from culture and the arts. VOM benefited from such prestigious contacts and was held in high esteem. I represented VOM and, consequently, I was in Venice at the company's expense.

Allegation: VOM's MD spent thousands of liri cruising on a "peace" project around the Mediterranean.

Facts: VOM joined four other partner organisers in the Odysseé 2003 project. The partners were France, Spain, Italy, Romania and Malta. The project was an initiative of the International Institute of Mediterranean Theatre (IITM) based in Marseilles.

A naval ship, made available free of charge by the government of Romania, was transformed into a ship of peace. The concept was a strong political statement made through the arts and culture.

Odysseé 2003 was to convey a message of unity in diversity and dialogue in the Mediterranean region, being a region that had experienced long years of conflict and tensions.

Fifteen countries from both the north and the south of the Mediterranean accepted the invitation to welcome the Odysseé into their respective harbours for one night. Artists, dancers, poets, actors and musicians performed on board during the trip from one harbour to another, transforming the naval ship into a floating theatre.

The journey, starting and ending in Romania, lasted about five weeks.

VOM organised the welcome at the Grand Harbour with a Lejla Maltija in Vittoriosa where the 70 visitors mixed with Maltese artists and performers. The authorities gave all necessary permits for the ship to sail into Grand Harbour. This was the pattern used in all seaports visited; the difference was only in the local traditions and folklore at the port of call.

It is not true that I cruised on the ship. I did not take part in the journey. I declined the invitation as one of the five partners. I sent a Maltese journalist on board from Malta to Sicily to have a taste of the artistic experience of the mixed cultures. He wrote an article about this part of the journey for The Times.

I went on board only when the ship anchored at Grand Harbour to exchange greetings with the main organizer, Richard Martin of IITM.

VOM's share of the funds was committed more than a year before when the station was going strong. The preparations for the next project, renamed Navig Arts 2005, started during the autumn of 2003, when I informed IITM I could not commit VOM's participation at that stage.

Last year it enjoyed the financial backing of EU Culture 2000. Malta, following the closure of VOM and failing to find a substitute, lost participation in this prestigious project that was the only performing arts project in which the island was involved. What a pity for Malta!

Allegation: Furniture and equipment were bought on the basis of direct order for thousands of liri when the radio station was sinking. Later nobody knew what had happened to big chunks of this material.

Facts: It is not true that furniture was bought on direct order. Relevant quotations for the procurement of furniture are found in the respective files. This was confirmed also by the National Audit Office report. Sophisticated equipment bought from overseas had to be ordered directly.

It is not true that this was done when the radio station was sinking. All furniture and equipment was ordered and purchased during 2002 and the beginning of 2003. The Libyan side not only concurred with the decisions made, but also placed their own orders for their offices/studio. The Maltese councilors were in the loop all the time.

It is also not true that chunks of material were lost. All furniture and equipment was listed in the inventory and could be identified at the unused premises.

Allegation: Two other directors of VOM had warned that proper procedures needed to be followed in making financial decisions.

Facts: The two Maltese councilors never warned me about such procedures. They were both satisfied with my work at all times. They were fully aware of the volume of administrative work that was loading heavily my daily activities. Had they really expressed concern about my performance, I would have clarified the situation immediately. I never did anything behind their back or against their expressed wishes.

Allegation: Proper management of public monies did not exist at VOM.

Facts: It is not correct to say that proper management of public monies did not exist at VOM. All transactions and financial measures were duly recorded and such records were kept in the proper books of accounts by the accountant. The Maltese councilors were kept informed at all times on the preparations and executions of the budget provisions. I never overspent the budget allocations. A professional audit was performed every year. All payments, even if a minimal amount, were made by cheque bearing two of three signatures that had been authorised by the board of administration of VOM.

Allegation: He awarded an IT contract on the basis that his son's friend enjoyed his confidence.

Facts: I awarded the contract to Cyberspace Solutions on the basis of the track record of the company in the web design and graphic design sectors. The company was a leading young enterprise in those years when the sector was in its infancy. My son had nothing to do with the negotiations and eventual signing of the contract. He was studying at the time. In fact, he went back to his studies upon relinquishing his commitments with Cyberspace Solutions.

I discussed my ideas with the company. They made a presentation and produced costing that were duly negotiated. The Maltese councilors approved the plan and costs. The signing then followed.

The question of trust came as a final criterion. I could not simply sign a contract with a company to which I had to give access to the offices at all times (on a 24-hour basis) and access to all VOM files on the internet without also trusting the person 100 per cent. I think this is only fair for a smooth working relationship.

The results achieved through the two contracts in the IT Department were exceptionally good. The VOM website was a finalist on two occasions in national website awards.

VOM proved to have made a good deal on the basis of value for money and a sure investment in IT for a state-of-the-art international radio station. This assessment was also confirmed by the NAO technical adviser during the Public Accounts Committee hearings.

When one takes into account the whole campaign conducted to tarnish my reputation, it becomes very evident that there is someone who has been busy pushing the cause. The infamous source works in the darkness of anonymity.

One has to see beyond the loud noise of this smear campaign or should I call it madness?

This has become a very serious matter of conscience for those who have seen the outcome of the campaign and persist in their position. Certainly, the VOM saga has proved to be anything but a stand in favour of good governance and high moral grounds! There is a sinister element encompassing this hysterical campaign that must be exposed for the sake of fairness.

richard.muscat@gov.mt