Code of ethics does not allow ministers to accept gifts
Ministers cannot accept gifts or services, according to a code of ethics, even if the Prime Minister still allowed the Finance Minister to go on a football trip with two prominent businessmen in April.
Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday he had nothing to add to his declaration on Sunday when he was first asked whether Tonio Fenech's trip was in breach of the ministerial code of ethics.
He also avoided a direct question as to whether he had all the details of the trip when endorsing Mr Fenech's one-day holiday.
On Sunday, Dr Gonzi defended his minister's behaviour and denied there was a conflict of interest linked to the new gaming regulations.
In an interview with The Times, Mr Fenech said the match tickets and flight were free but he paid for his accommodation. The minister had obtained the Prime Minister's clearance for the trip to watch Arsenal play Villarreal in Spain.
The ministerial code of ethics says that ministers should not accept "gifts or services" that might be deemed to create an "obligation, real or imaginary". The same rule also applies to ministers' spouses and minor children.
On the trip with businessmen Joe Gasan and George Fenech, the minister was accompanied by his son and nephew. The plane they travelled on is a private jet owned by George Fenech and the match tickets were provided by Mr Gasan through Ford's sponsorship of the Champions League.
The ministerial code of ethics also raises question marks over the minister's second trip with Mr Fenech to an airline show in Geneva.
According to the minister, this trip on Mr Fenech's private jet was "official government business" intended to convince a potential investor to open shop in Malta.
The chief executive of Malta Enterprise, Alan Camilleri, also accompanied the minister on the trip.
Dr Gonzi defended his minister's trip on this occasion when asked whether it was official government policy for ministerial travel to be financed privately by businessmen.
"The Minister of Finance, the Economy and Investment is responsible for meeting with investors and attracting business opportunities to Malta. This government supports any opportunity which has the potential to create jobs," the Prime Minister said.
The ministerial code of ethics lays down that when ministers are carrying out government work abroad "they should not accept offers for free travel from governments or other organisations" except as stipulated in the official programme. The code insists that the Prime Minister must be consulted whenever there are doubts.
The minister has defended his actions insisting he had a clear conscience about the affair. He laid the blame for the controversy at the door of gaming parlour operators who are opposed to the new law that intends to introduce strict controls on the sector.
The new gaming regulations have also been interpreted by operators as benefitting casinos.
The issue of the minister's potential conflict of interest because of his travels with Mr Fenech was first raised in an anonymous letter sent to him about two months ago.
Mr Fenech is a casino operator and is bidding for the management contract of the Dragonara Casino.
The letter attempted to blackmail the minister by referring to photos of him travelling with Mr Fenech.
The minister insisted the new regulations were intended to curb abuse and not to favour Mr Fenech. He said he would not resign as long as he enjoyed the Prime Minister's trust.
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g. scerri
Oct 14th 2009, 15:56
The hundreds of civil servants who went to Brussels, some of them on a regular basis, had to book with Air Malta, which is right and proper. But when we see ministers avoid this, what is one left to think?
philip pace
Oct 14th 2009, 15:25
Minister Tonio Fenech should have never accepted anything. He and his leaders are both in the wrong as that is something no Minister or Prime Minister is supposed to do.
They both broke the etchics rule.
It is either Tonio Fenech is naive or he wants to take the people for a ride as his defence of asking the Prime Minister about this trip holds no ground.
Although he won't do it, I on behalf of many disgruntled Maltese call for his immediate resignation.
He should note that as he was sending tax bills to the people and as the same people pay for his salary, he is employed by the people and when the people have had enough he should go. Now we all know what happens if one does not pay the tax!
It is no use to sanctify yourself as the innocent victim when you should have refused outright the invitation to travel to Spain.
If he stays the Maltese have nothing else to do but to remind the PM that they both have broken the law.
Therefore what is the law of the land for?
mario gellel
Oct 14th 2009, 13:22
It seems that only the street man is bound to obey the law. As I said in the past, this is an unti-democratic govt in a democratic country.No more No less.
JUNGLE REPUBLIC..
Kevin Zammit
Oct 14th 2009, 13:20
My kids like tennis ... I heard that there are now free ferries to the UK on executive jets. Can someone please let me know how a middle class, tax paying, average citizen can book the next flight out?
Thanks
Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia
Oct 14th 2009, 13:19
Finally someone bothered making reference to the Code of Ethics to examine this case.
The same code of ethics should have been consulted by the PM before giving advise to Minister Fenech to accept the gift! But code of ethics like many other government docs are in reality there only to collect dust.
Quite honselty i still cannot understand how such an offer could ever be accepted by a person who should know much better. Minister Fenech, allured with the invitation and with the chance to impress the young members of his family, did well to seek advise from the PM but the latter should never have given his go ahead.
This was a stupid mistake. You have decided to take a political career for the love of your country. No one forced you to do it. You must understand that this entails exposure to the public and the outright refusal of any chance of being accused of favouritism or corruption.
Accepting these kind of gifts from businessmen is completely wrong. And this has nothing to do with having a clear conscience or the gaming regulations. It is wrong whatever the circumstance.
And the Minister knows this.
John Fenech
Oct 14th 2009, 13:15
It seems that the PN has a dead wish to relinquish governing ASAP. Otherwise, how can one explain the events involving breach of political etiquette, infringement of environment regulations, anti social legislation, political bickering, over reaching statements and numerous other gaffs?
The present political and economical situation requires a united and problem solving team. Therefore, what is the significance of these misadventures from those, whom for sure, know better! Are they asking the public, to foreclose this government tenure on their behalf? It is unbelievable, but unless the PN will prove that accountability, transparency and humility are not just buzzwords than the inevitable might be around the corner!
D Zammit
Oct 14th 2009, 13:14
I work in the private sector and have been offered many gifts over the years. Never accepted any to make sure no one can point a fingure at me. When in the public eye one should make sure these issues never occur let only support them. Hon T Fenech is a hard working minister and i am sure his intentions were honest but i think this is the line he should have NEVER gone beyond.
Peter Korsten
Oct 14th 2009, 12:11
"He said he would not resign as long as he enjoyed the Prime Minister's trust."
Yes, but what's perhaps more important, does the electorate still trust him, or the PM for that matter? That's something they should be more concerned about.
joe vella
Oct 14th 2009, 12:03
c'mon guys give the poor bloke a break, god knows how many sleepless nights he is going through trying to balance a budget that was supposed to be a surplus bonanza
he needs some distractions, and what better than football in the company of two such distinct gentlemen?
everybody seems to know a lot of details about his comings and goings, the only details left out are the restaurants they ate at!
and, to the nation's advantage, he might get some very useful tips on how to curb govenment expenditure from these guys.
frankly, if messrs gasan and fenech have some free tickets I wouldn't mind a ride
michael fenech
Oct 14th 2009, 12:02
The Minister will not resign not because he’s got the Prim Minister’s trust, HE WILL NOT RESIGN BECAUSE LIKE THE REST OF THIS GOVERNMENT RUELS MEAN NOTHING TO THEM,THEY BEEN THERE SO LONG THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN DO AS THEY PLEAS .
J Brincat
Oct 14th 2009, 11:28
So now it is clear.
The code of ethics has been breached.
Forget about resignations in Malta.
It must have a good feeling to be glued to the seat of power!
P.Cassar
Oct 14th 2009, 11:12
i.e.
By endorsing Tonio's trip, the Prime Minister, willingly or unwillingly, became guilty of complicity in the wrongdoing. BOTH HAVE NO OPTION BUT TO RESIGN IF THEY REALLY BELIEVE IN WESTERN DEMOCRACY.
QED
Joseph Aquilina
Oct 14th 2009, 11:07
Why did Dr.Fenech need to ask permission to Dr.Gonzi about his trip to England if he was so sure he was doing nothing wrong? Also, was the anonymous letter even reported to the police? If not, why not? Today’s politicians are more like old aristocracy – laws are only there for the unprivileged ones – the rest of us that are not part of their own circles.
g.c.Forte
Oct 14th 2009, 10:48
Knowing what a gentleman you are Minister Tonio Fenech, you should consider your position for the gaffe you made, whatever the Prim Minister says. Obviously he is not going to tell you to resign, like he did with John Dalli. Anyway, on the other hand, if you can defend yourself from the attacks coming to you for the next two or three months, it will be over like the others. We are living in a country were "Cikku tat triq jaqlahha ghal l-inqas zball u l- kbar huma untouchables ".
claire farrugia
Oct 14th 2009, 10:45
he should definitely resign, here in Germany such Ministers have to resign once such activities come out in public, the fact that Gonzi approved or not does not play a role at all
Chris Finch
Oct 14th 2009, 10:42
The minister said he wouldn't resign so long as he had the minister's trust!
Shouldn't he have the public's trust? Or are these ministers so arrogant that they care nothing for the people that put them in office?
Mark Cushcieri
Oct 14th 2009, 10:35
Code of ethics does not allow ministers to accept gifts ... jahasra ux haha
S Camilleri
Oct 14th 2009, 10:33
Ethics do not seem to be too high on the Administration's list of priorities.
P Borg
Oct 14th 2009, 10:30
I think all this shows how naive Minister Fenech is. I am sure that he did all this with no bad intention but things like these may only tarnish his reputation. At this stage, it would be better if he offered his resignation as he has damaged the government's already diminishing reputation.
As an aside, I think that in Malta, politicians are all too closely involved with the top businessmen. Many can recall Joe Saliba's boat trip with another top businessman of some 2 years ago.
George Casha
Oct 14th 2009, 10:29
We shall know soon enough if there was any 'conflict of interest' when we learn who actually was awarded the contract yes ?.
I. Brincat
Oct 14th 2009, 10:25
and neither does common sense.