Kurt Sansone
'I have the Prime Minister's trust'
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech insists he did nothing wrong when he travelled to a football match on the private jet of businessman George Fenech. He tells Kurt Sansone the whole issue was instigated by gaming parlour operators to derail the new gaming regulations.
When did you fly with Joe Gasan?
We went to watch Arsenal play in Spain against Villa Real. We left Malta at 11 a.m. on April 7 and we came back on the morrow. By 1 p.m. I had to be back in Malta because I had a number of meetings.
Who paid the trip expenses?
George Fenech also accompanied us on the trip. There was also Joe's son, my son and my nephew. The aeroplane was George's so we paid nothing for the flight. The tickets were Joe's, which he obtained through Ford's sponsorship of the Champions League. The tickets came for free but I paid for my hotel expenses.
You also went on a second trip with George Fenech. What kind of trip was this?
George was trying to lure the company he serviced his aircraft at to come and invest in Malta. On that trip I was also accompanied by Alan Camilleri from Malta Enterprise. The company wanted to expand somewhere in the Mediterranean to start targeting the region. The invite came through Captain Xuereb not through George but being the CEO of the company he also accompanied us. We met the company in Geneva during a show.
Why did you go?
It was a business opportunity for Malta. I go abroad to meet company CEOs to encourage them to invest in Malta. If a Maltese investor found an opportunity to invest with another investor, should I not support him to create jobs in Malta? Whether I go with Air Malta or George Fenech's private jet makes no difference.
Was it official government business?
Yes it was.
Is it appropriate to conduct official government business through a privately funded trip?
Yes and I would do it again. If there is an opportunity to create jobs, why not? I will not nitpick like you are doing. This will be a very good investment and I will shortly announce it. Had I travelled with Air Malta I would not have gone because of the tight schedule I had.
When they come they will be creating jobs and servicing other jets not only George Fenech's. I am the minister responsible for investment so what is wrong with me meeting potential investors?
How many times have you travelled with Joe Gasan and George Fenech?
Only once on holiday if you want to call the football match a holiday.
The implication is that George Fenech, who operates two casinos and is bidding for the Dragonara management contract, has a direct interest in the gaming sector, which you intend regulating through a new law.
I have known for at least two months that somebody wanted to bring out this story. There are big financial interests in these gaming parlours that have mushroomed all over the country but I have a conscience and will not allow Malta to be turned into one big casino. There are some who are implying that I am doing this to further George Fenech's interests.
If it were up to me I would ban all forms of gaming because I am a committed Christian and intrinsically believe gambling is wrong. To accuse me of wanting to regulate the gaming sector rigorously to benefit George Fenech is a dirty game.
There are people out there who want to tarnish my name with this innocent story that has nothing to do with the issue at stake. I know that for many people my reputation has been ruined. The link has been made and I knew it was coming because I was warned of this by an anonymous letter that made unfounded allegations when we cracked down on the parlours. I did not heed the threatening message in the letter since I still went to Cabinet with new regulations. I did not give in to their demands to continue operating wherever and whenever they wanted.
The reality is that if it were up to the casino operators we would ban the gaming parlours outright. But I went to Cabinet with a proposed framework to allow the gaming halls to continue operating within strictly controlled parameters. I fail to see how I am supposed to be helping casinos.
Do you see nothing wrong politically in being so close to a prominent businessman?
Joe Gasan continuously sends me e-mails on a friendly basis asking me to go with him to watch football games. I never went. But this was a unique occasion because Joe had the tickets and the flight was arranged because George Fenech decided to go as well. I was not going to waste two or three days. I told him I would consider it but insisted that I would need clearance. I told the Prime Minister about the details of the trip and he told me there was nothing wrong if I went.
The first thing Joe Gasan told me was that neither he nor George would speak to me about business on the trip. And we did not. Don't I have a right to watch Arsenal play and take my son with me? Why is somebody trying to turn this into a scandal as if I want to do George any favours?
Why indeed?
I want to crack down on the gaming sector because I have a conscience, not because I want to favour George Fenech. On this I am backed by the Prime Minister and the whole parliamentary group.
I explained to the parliamentary group what I was doing and any misconceptions were ironed out. Today I can confidently claim that I have their backing because they realise that what I am doing is in the country's best interest.
The people making good money from these outlets can tarnish me as much as they want but they will not get what they want.
Have you breached political ethics by being so close to an interested party?
If I went on the trip without informing the Prime Minister I probably would have done something wrong. However, I felt that I had to be open about the matter and informed the Prime Minister about the invitation. If the Prime Minister felt the trip could have compromised my job in any way I would not have gone. The tender for the Dragonara Casino had not yet been issued.
What about the privatisation of Malta Shipyards where George Fenech through VGT was bidding for the Marsa shipbuilding facility and eventually was selected as preferred bidder?
This means that I have to stay at home. Half of the business community has tendered for the privatisation process of Malta Shipyards and I meet these people during receptions; some of them come to talk to me on unrelated matters. When they ask to talk to me about the privatisation process I refrain from doing so. It cannot be that a government minister does not meet people.
There is a difference between meeting someone at your ministry or during a reception and going on his private jet.
What difference does it make? If I met with George Fenech at the ministry and accepted to do what is being alleged, would that be OK?
You are being simplistic.
No I am not. I am being factual. It is not the first time that I have meetings at the ministry that are not on my diary because somebody would have asked for an urgent appointment. I do not keep a log of the meetings I hold. It is not as if George Fenech is a sinner. Neither would I have done anything wrong had I met him at his office. He is not a criminal.
The perception of you being so close to him has political implications.
The perception is built by the media. If you want to build it go ahead, I cannot do anything about it. My conscious is clear because all I did was go and watch a football match. I am honest but half the population would not believe me irrespective of what I say because they are politically against me. I also know there are a couple of honest people with whom I have lost credibility. There is nothing else I can do to convince them. I have nothing to hide, so much so that when a journalist phoned me on Saturday to ask me about the matter I gave him the correct information.
Do you feel you should make a ministerial statement in Parliament on the matter?
No. This is my first and last interview on the subject. I have the Prime Minister's trust.
Did you offer your resignation?
No. The Prime Minister spoke clearly on Sunday. If he feels that because of this circumstance I am not fit to continue in my job I will resign. I had cleared it with him beforehand but unfortunately in this country the minister is expected to stay in a cocoon.
Aren't the letter's allegations based on the perception that you are close to George Fenech?
I am not close to George Fenech. I have no commercial interests with the man. I do not have regular meetings with him. The reality is that it was Joe Gasan who invited me not George. God forbid I am so cheap as to be bought by a pair of football tickets.
A politician's behaviour is not only judged by whether he breaks the law or not. There is also an issue of political responsibility. Do you see nothing wrong in fomenting the perception of wrongdoing?
The fact that the trip was linked to the gaming regulations has damaged me and nothing I say will change that. If I knew at the time that we were going to crack down on the gaming parlours I would have been more careful but I had no such indication.
In your yearly ministry report in March you said that you would be presenting Cabinet with proposals to regulate the sector.
Even in the previous budgets I made such commitments. The reality is that these regulations have long been coming and Cabinet had rejected them a number of times. It is a very sensitive issue and I was wary about whether a renewed attempt to raise them in Cabinet would have been successful. We are not comfortable to see Malta being turned into Las Vegas.
Will this affect the evaluation of the Dragonara Casino bids?
The process involves a due diligence exercise and the three bidders have to satisfy a number of conditions. If the three of them qualify from the test it all boils down to who would be offering the best price. The price will be public and I will not be making the choice. People cannot expect me to change the rules so that George Fenech will be excluded from the bid. The letter tried to condition me in everything I do but I will not allow that to happen.
Are you still comfortable as a minister?
Yes. As long as I have the Prime Minister's trust I will continue in my job.
27 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Rob Schembri
Oct 14th 2009, 19:11
"Do you feel you should make a ministerial statement in Parliament on the matter?
No. This is my first and last interview on the subject. I have the Prime Minister's trust"
And here you have it ladies and gentlemen ... Arrogance at its best!!!
Well done Mr Minister - You have the PM's trust. You have no reason to even consider what us Maltese people (who elected you to government) might think ... I mean really - who are we to question you!!
Imma qed tinsew (PN) ... It-tigrija sal balkun!
Jonathan Shaw
Oct 14th 2009, 10:57
The thing is that there is nothing wrong with going to watch a football match with a friend.
If you are in politics, however, and you accept such 'presents' you are automatically obliging yourself to return the favour. This, though not corruptive in itself, gets one to be more malleable to the practice of corruption. Withal, when certain decisions involving the person who gave you the 'present' have to be undertaken, they will invariably be shrouded by an aura of illegitimacy, even if they had been completely honest.
Though I do not think that Tonio Fenech should resign over this, I do think that he should take a hands off approach from any decisions that could involve Mr. Gasan, either directly or indirectly - and since Mr. Gasan is involved in loads of things, this means getting someone else to make some very substantial decisions. That said, however, I would not have expected Mr. Fenech to be so naive (to say the least) and to open the door for such criticism.
Jonathan Shaw
Oct 14th 2009, 09:54
Big Deal!
Martin Spiteri
Oct 14th 2009, 08:50
@ nigel lawrence
speak for yourself and leave us who believe in decency and not mud throwing out. it seems that people do take pleasure in creating a mud slinging campaign. enjoy yourself squelching in mud. by the way mud sticks also to the person throwing it !
A Vella
Oct 14th 2009, 08:48
@ Anthony Mercieca: If you are so naive to still trust him, good luck to you! Genuine nationalists are concerned about this, but there are people like Mr Mercieca, that whatever the government does it is 'vangelu'. Maybe that is why we never learn our mistakes, past and present!
D.Bonello
Oct 13th 2009, 22:11
Dear Minister...You have the prime Ministes trust. However, you dont have mine. The right thing for you to do now is resign. As you cannot have the publics trust. Thank you.
gxuereb
Oct 13th 2009, 22:07
Not so long ago we had enjoyable TRIPS on a YACHT and NOW we have enjoyable TRIPS by a private PLANE!!
michael fenech
Oct 13th 2009, 20:50
(Quote) Don't I have a right to watch Arsenal play and take my son with me? Why is somebody trying to turn this into a scandal as if I want to do George any favours? (Unquote )
Yes sir, you have the right to do what you want, there is absolutely nothing wrong if you take the family to watch Arsenal play if you take Air Malta, but Sir when you are the Finance Minister and you go as a guest on a private jet with two prominent businessmen,
Yes sir that is WRONG.
And Sir you said, Yes I’m still comfortable as a minister as long as I have the Prime Minister’s trust. AND I TELL YOU SIR THAT IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THE MINISTER WILL STEP DOWN.
Galea. L
Oct 13th 2009, 16:19
N.Calleja
It's better that you and the other apologists grow up Calleja.
I am not saying that they did, but are you condoning occasions where interests may possibly play a part?
The new Delimara power station extension apart from others come to mind.
K Scerri
Oct 13th 2009, 16:07
'George was trying to ..................................the company he also accompanied us. We met the company in Geneva during a show.' (unquote)
The company is MTM aviation with headquarters in Munich.The show he is referring. to is the EBACE 2009 which was held in Geneva.
How come the minister didn't fly to Geneva via Munich? There is a daily Air Malta Flight that leaves in the morning with numerous connections to Geneva.
Munich Geneva LH3680 0705 LH 3690 1705
LH 36841120 LH3692 1905
LH3688 1510 LH3694 2105
He could even return to Malta on the very same day flying with the Air Malta evening flight from Munich via Catania.
N.Calleja
Oct 13th 2009, 15:56
It's amazing how so many journalists(and many other people for that matter) think that ministers and other parliamentarians are a bunch of criminals, frauderers etc. They enjoy themselves throwing mud at them for any flimsy excuse. This is part of the political agenda going round the Island in this moment in time. They want to bring down this government at all cost. Every excuse is feasable and adds up to motives behind this nasty game. In Maltese we have a saying,'kulhadd ikejjel b'xibru!' How naive can we be. Grow up please! Minister Fenech should not have excepted such an interview. It's an insult to everyone's intelligence!
Nigel Lawrence
Oct 13th 2009, 15:48
'I have the Prime Minister's trust'---
It's a shame, you don't have OURS!
Anthony Mercieca
Oct 13th 2009, 15:37
I too have full trust in the Minister of Finance.
Whoever is trying to slender his reputation for accepting an invitation to watch a football game and believe that Tonio would sell himself and his integrity, really does not know the gentleman.
It has become too frequent to shout wolf whenever there is an investment involved but such cries often emerge from people who would themselves practice corruption with anyone and anywhere just to acquire their aims.
Whoever wants a bribe or expects a return for favours or gifts, is intelligent enough to hush the whole affair.
Tonio didn't do that.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 13th 2009, 15:26
I repeat what I said elsewhere: it was not a prudent move for Minister Fenech to go for that trip to watch Arsenal. I am sorry: we are not used to having Nationalist Ministers behaving in this manner. This reminds me of other ministers, other Governments, other days!
Christian Sciberras
Oct 13th 2009, 15:19
Earth and society are falling to pieces, yet we are still discussing this political crap?
That said, I don't think Mr Fenech did anything wrong by accepting this trip.
Really, does it take a trip to a football match to by the prime minister?
I mean, it would have made more sense if instead he was given an undisclosed sum of money (or anything the like) rather then a trip (as if it wasn't public enough).
Gianninu Saliba
Oct 13th 2009, 14:04
So these Socialist fanatics (I would have preferred to calll them something else) believe that the Minister would be bribed by three tickets that Joe Gasan obtained for free from Ford who sponsor the champions league? Do these people really think that three flight 'tickets' (the seats would have been empty anyway as George Fenech and Joe Gasan would have gone anyway) are the type of bribe that would influence such a capable Minister?
C Vella
Oct 13th 2009, 13:27
So according to some people Min Tonio Fenech should ask to see the bank account of people he meets and go abroad with. Come on, if he was a corrupt Minister he wouldn't accept a free flight he would have his own jet. It is a free flight we are talking about not a free jet or a villa. Just for the record I do not know or even ever met this minister.
Dominic Vella
Oct 13th 2009, 12:35
It wasn't just going to a football match. It was flying on a private jet and getting free hospitality at the match. |He should declare such trips publicly every time he goes and pay an equivalent of an Air Malta ticket for him and his son towards their fuel on the jet, and donate to charity the cost of the hospitality package at the match. If he acted like this nobody could say he put himself in a position where he was left obliged to a businessman.
Kevin Plumpton
Oct 13th 2009, 12:29
It is cheap to judge Tonio Fenech on such a trip, and try to tarnish his reputation based on allegations of 'what if', 'what would', and 'what could' statements. God forbid our ministers, most especially Malta's finance minister, cannot meet businessmen even on a social level. It only takes a low IQ to realise that most businesses and investments find their roots in social, and informal networking...let's not use events such as these for futile political advantage please. Be factual, and criticise Tonio's politics or ministerial work, if you deem necessary, but don't imply things which cannot be proven.
Gianni Xuereb
Oct 13th 2009, 12:18
smells like rotten fish
Godfrey Camilleri
Oct 13th 2009, 11:21
Both the Hon Minister, and the PM made a mistake to approve such a trip. When I was Head of Procurement with Enemalta, I had innumerable invitations to go out for dinner with suppliers or potential suppliers, and I never accepted, even if we had not done business for years and there was no tender in the pipeline in which the individual could have an interest. Going on a trip with a known businessman to obtain potential business is another matter, and such a trip would completely be above board.
Galea. L
Oct 13th 2009, 11:16
Gonzi's trust means nothing.
The majority of the people do not trust Gonzi.
Hold an election and you'll see.
C.A.Magdi
Oct 13th 2009, 10:52
I am sorry but people meet people. I don't think he did anything wrong by going to a football match with a business man. If he is strong enough to seperate friendship from work then why are we to stay judging everyone? Don't you all live your life? Do you think that if he was just another business man you would have thought bad of him for meeting this other guy? I don't think so. We are just blaming him cause he is a politician. After all if there is something lying beneath what he is saying it will surface one of these days.
C.A.Magdi
Oct 13th 2009, 10:51
I am sorry but people meet people. I don't think he did anything wrong by going to a football match with a business man. If he is strong enough to seperate friendship from work then why are we to stay judging everyone? Don't you all live your life? Do you think that if he was just another business man you would have thought bad of him for meeting this other guy? I don't think so. We are just blaming him cause he is a politician. After all if there is something lying beneath what he is saying it will surface one of these days.
Leo Said
Oct 13th 2009, 10:31
Dear Minister,
You should (urgently) learn what political correctness and political responsibility mean: resignation from your portfolio.
You would thereby avoid further disgrace to your NP.
Claris Galea
Oct 13th 2009, 09:58
Even if I believe that Minister Tonio Fenech has a clear conscience, he must admit that he would wish that he had not done this trip .
Putting it in another light , would he take a trip with a well known lady of the night , for a one night stay in Amsterdam and then come home and tell his wife that he went out for a meal , only !
Life stinks and sometimes the Shite hits the fan !
Peter Bonnici
Oct 13th 2009, 09:32
Did the Ministry pay GF for using the private jet for the (official) trip to Geneva? If so, what price was paid?