Caritas director defends volunteer who is casino security adviser

Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech came to the rescue of a volunteer working among usury victims who admitted on national television he was a security consultant for one of Malta's casinos.

Mgr Victor Grech said that former police inspector John Zammit had always given a very good service to usury victims and he saw no reason to ask him to stop.

"He gives a quality service and I have received very good feedback about him. I do not have any problems about his integrity," Mgr Grech said, adding he did not feel Mr Zammit's security consultancy to a casino was in direct conflict with his voluntary work. When he appeared on TVM's current affairs programme Dissett on Tuesday night, Mr Zammit, who has been working among usury victims on a voluntary basis for the past two years, admitted he was a security consultant to a casino. He denied having a conflict of interest, insisting he was not involved in gaming issues.

This was reiterated by Mgr Grech, who said Mr Zammit did not have anything to do with the casino itself but with its security. Moreover, he said, Mr Zammit did a very good job with Caritas and had usury victims very much at heart.

"I do not see why Mr Zammit should stop coming into contact with usury victims. He is not working in the casino and has nothing to do with gambling. If this had been the case, I would have asked him to stop immediately," Mgr Grech said.

He said Mr Zammit had always battled gambling and those who promoted it in a very enthusiastic manner.

Mgr Grech said Caritas's position had always been against gambling and would remain so: "We had pushed for legislation against usury and are the only organisation to set up a regular service for usury victims".

When contacted, Mr Zammit preferred not to comment, saying only that he did what he did out of Christian charity.