Serious mistake or storm in a teacup?
The Finance Minister's football trip on a private jet with two businessmen has columnists and political observers divided on whether it is a matter for resignation, even if they agree that, with hindsight, he should never have gone.
Former Labour minister and columnist Lino Spiteri writes off the affair as a "storm in a tea cup".
"I am sure that on second thoughts Tonio Fenech would have watched the game in another manner. But what is going on is little more than a storm in a tea cup. There are bigger issues to tackle relating to business and politics," he said.
Mr Spiteri is a director of Tumas Investments plc along with George Fenech, the businessman on whose private jet Tonio Fenech flew to watch the Arsenal game.
For former Nationalist Party candidate and political observer Georg Sapiano, the whole affair creates tension between a situation in which a finance minister is asking people to tighten their belt and another situation where the same minister is jetting off to see football games with businessmen.
"From that point of view, with hindsight, I think we all agree that skipping the trip would have been a better idea," he said.
However, Dr Sapiano insisted it was not appropriate to infer that because a member of government has travelled with businessmen he is necessarily in their pocket.
"Neither does it mean that Tonio Fenech is not spending every hour of his day to manage our economy in these times of crisis," Dr Sapiano said.
Although the decision to go and watch the game was not his most inspired one, he added, it should not be the sole yardstick by which the man was now to be judged.
Political observer Godfrey Grima disagreed, insisting the minister's decision to fly with two businessmen was "hugely indiscreet".
Describing the trip as a "serious mistake", Mr Grima said it was "ill-timed and with the wrong company".
"The only reason he was invited is because he is a minister. It shows there is no accountability in this country with ministers displaying a sense of arrogance and lack of respect towards public opinion," he said.
Mr Grima also took the Prime Minister to task for approving Mr Fenech's flight plans, insisting he was a "fool" to get embroiled in this way.
"I do not know whether it is a resigning matter because people do make mistakes but this is an issue the Prime Minister has to deal with," he said.
If Mr Fenech's resignation is a question mark in Mr Grima's mind, not the same can be said of columnist Claire Bonello.
She said the minister's behaviour was "clearly inappropriate" and he should resign.
The value of the freebie had nothing to do with the issue at stake, she added, insisting that what mattered most was the minister's acceptance of the gift from big business.
"What is worse is that the Prime Minister completely ignored the implications of what the Minister was going to do and approved the trip," she said.
Dr Bonello insisted it was unfair of the Prime Minister to charge the opposition with mudslinging because the whole issue revolved around his minster's breach of the code of ethics.
"Mr Fenech should resign or be made to resign if the Prime Minister wants to hold the moral high ground. He should not just go on and defend those close to him," she said.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola described the whole incident as a serious lack of understanding of ethical behaviour by Nationalist ministers.
He also criticised the Prime Minister for giving his blessing to Mr Fenech's free trip.
"Any serious European Prime Minster would set and expect high standards of conduct from his ministers. Prime Minister Gonzi clearly does not give any importance to this very important matter," Prof. Cassola said.
The Minister admitted to going on a free trip aboard leading businessman George Fenech's private jet to watch Arsenal play in Spain.
Accompanying the two was businessman Joe Gasan who obtained the match tickets for free through Ford's sponsorship of the Champions League.
Mr Fenech told The Times on Monday he paid for his accommodation.
The Minister and the Prime Minister refused to make a ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday evening.
Mr Fenech has insisted he has a clear conscience and changes to the gaming law in the pipeline were never intended to advantage George Fenech, who owns two casinos and is in the running for the management bid of Dragonara Casino.
Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party Parliamentary Group condemned anonymous letters aimed at influencing policy-makers and decision-making.
The group said anonymous letters were a low condemnable weapon and it assured everyone that none of its members would be influenced by such letters.
31 Comments
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S. Camilleri
Oct 17th 2009, 20:02
To answer the question posed..............
.... I would say the answer is ..Both. It was at best as serious misjudgment on behalf of the minister to let himself be "priviledged" by such start treatment. On the other hand, though the fuss is to an extent warranted, I feel that insinuations of corruption or calls for resignation are a bit over the top... Now if he were to be asked to resign over the mess in the economy........!! THAT would make sense.
C Calleja
Oct 17th 2009, 16:19
I am disappointed with the comments of L Spiteri, I was expecting more from him.A short and sweet "No Comment" considering his interest would have made more sense.And obviously I am even more disappointed at the minister for still holding onto his office after such a gaffe.Any sensible person would have resigned by now.But in this country we preach one thing and do another.
B Sant
Oct 17th 2009, 14:22
bad or good intentions it is a serious mistake but no one in malta seems to be acconutable so he gets the blessing -
Abel Abela
Oct 17th 2009, 11:24
The short and sweet letter by former Nationalist MP Joe Psaila Savona says it all:
The Times, Thursday, 15th October 2009
"Without compliments" by Joe Psaila Savona, Żejtun
Like our Minister of Finance, years ago I too used to receive complimentary invitations. I wonder why I no longer receive these now!
M. Camilleri
Oct 16th 2009, 19:12
@Adrian Camilleri - He watched a football game with friends. Big deal.
Yeah at the same time there is the Gaming Law being discussed? It's cause of people like you who justify ministers' wrongdoings that nowadays we have a set of ministers who disregard blatantly the code of ethics and act arrogantly ...
Adrian Camilleri
Oct 16th 2009, 15:58
He watched a football game with friends. Big deal.
Chris Grillo
Oct 16th 2009, 12:41
To me the only thing the minister did wrong was going to see Arsenal..he should have gone to see Juve...hehe...
What if these two businessmen were friends of Mr.Fenech (whom I absolutely do not know), does that preclude the same Mr.Fenech of having friends who can give him what is, technically, a lift?
'Isma, jiena sejjer nara loghba, u ghandi postijiet vojta ghax minghajr nisa', tithajjar tigi?'
You have to be nuts not to accept....let's grow up a bit guys.
Ray Gatt
Oct 16th 2009, 10:47
I agree that the minster was somewhat naive and I'm a little saddened the PM gave the go ahead, but to all those demanding he resigns I've got one question. How many labour ministers resigned when violence, murders, frameups, discrimination, political favours, burning of the times, attack on EFA's home, attacksssssssssssss on PN clubs, attack on curia, attacks on PN supporters celebrating 21st Sept. year after year by the SMU, police intermingling with criminals shooting tear gas at Tal-Barrani, police shooting on PN supporters in Rabat and I could go on and on. Sixteen years of it. Did you ever come out condoning, Mr. Grima? Arrogance Mr. Bonello? My answer is simple Mr. Galea Vincenti. Where were you then? Your chances of watching United lose are very slim Mr. Borg. Having written all this, I feel the minister was wrong and should resign as I believe nobody is above the code of ethics. I wrote this as I also believe that most of you do not care whether the minister did wrong or right. You just care about causing as much harm as possible to PN, punto e basta.
colin stanley
Oct 16th 2009, 10:02
I would like ti say one thing. Remember a few years ago when A lfred S ant went to an Arab state and took some bussinessmen with him, he was in opposition, what did the PN and it's media do? it was on the news everyday for at least a week. I not saying that Minister Fenech should resign (it never happens anyway here).all I am saying is what's good for the goose, is good for the gander .!!!!!
r cutajar
Oct 16th 2009, 07:50
foolishly x 3 +1= 0 ------------- ?
T Cremona
Oct 15th 2009, 20:51
What a country!
In such a clear case of political insensitivity which should obviously lead to ministerial resignation, Lino Spiteri, even though he does not believe it, calls the incident "a storm in a teacup".
What a country indeed.
Charles DeMicoli
Oct 15th 2009, 19:57
Whatever credibility Lino Spiteri had left evaporated with his comment.
L. Attard
Oct 15th 2009, 18:45
RESIGN
Peter Bonnici
Oct 15th 2009, 14:46
The fact that Lino Spiteri is in the employ of Tumas Group puts his writing into perspective. What else could he do? condemn his employer for inviting the minister to carry out an indiscretion?
J Martinelli
Oct 15th 2009, 13:21
It takes an incident such as this to get one thinking and asking: Who is naive? The PM and the Minister or those who are making a mountain out of a molehill?
Let's face it, one doubts Tonio Fenech can be bought for a free private flight to see a football game. He could very well have afforded to buy the tickets and none of this would have been discussed.
Those who fear some kind of collusion between a Minister and powerful businessmen must be living in a vacuum because if there were mal-intentions about all this, surely they would not have taken the form of a free flight which sooner or later would have become public knowledge as, in fact, it did.
If a businessman needs to get in touch with a Minister, it is not such a difficult thing to do in Malta, so what are we going to do to ensure correctness in a Minister-businessman relationship? Tap the Minister's phone line?
Sergio Galea Vincenti
Oct 15th 2009, 12:55
I have two fundamental questions relating to this whole issue:
a. The first is an obvious one: What would have been the reactions had the incident occurred during an Labour administration?
b. The second is just as obvious: From media reports where the Code of Ethics of Government ministers was quoted, why did the Prime Minister allow Minister Fenech to travel when this seemingly was in direct violation on a number of counts to the Code of Ethics?
These are very simple questions but I do not really expect an answer.
George Busuttil
Oct 15th 2009, 12:54
What's the use of having a code of ethics when it is totally ignored by the people for whom it was written?
Breaking the rules should always bring consequences. If ministers expect to be allowed to break their own code of conduct how can we expect VAT employees and others to abide by the rules?
Is everyone equal before the law or not? It seems the big fish (sharks) can get away with everything.
Paul Borg
Oct 15th 2009, 12:43
My comment is to the point ! Will Mr. George Fenech and Mr Gasan give me the same opportunity being just a mere mortal !!! If yes I only support English Teams and like to see United lose ! Their options are wide open. However I am not a Minister, or anybody in the PN . What are my chances?
Dave Aquilina
Oct 15th 2009, 12:29
It is a serious mistake. The people's confidence in government high officials should be well taken care of. Perception is as important as the actual facts themselves. Many have lost confidence in the finance minister. This is factual
Anthony Slater
Oct 15th 2009, 12:28
Definitely a storm in a teacup because this is no different then political parties receiving donations from major contractors, property developers etc..
However, as a Tottenham supporter, the choice of team leaves a lot to be desired !
Gianni Xuereb
Oct 15th 2009, 12:19
"Mr Spiteri is a director of Tumas Investments plc along with George Fenech, the businessman on whose private jet Tonio Fenech flew to watch the Arsenal game. "
Obviously describing it as storm in a teacup is all in his interest. I think you asked the opinion of the wrong person Kurt. He has a clear conflict of interest in what he said. The words "no comment" were sacred in this case.
Martin Zammit
Oct 15th 2009, 12:04
Serious mistake or storm in a teacup? The answer is simple; ask yourself if this happened in the UK or central/northern Europe (Italy and the Mediterranean are obviously non-comparable). What would the result be?
laurence schembri
Oct 15th 2009, 12:02
Resign he will not. Resignation is not on the Nationalists agenda. To many, his name is mud.
Eric Psaila
Oct 15th 2009, 11:52
I have a very simple question.
How would you have treated a government employee who would have accepted a gift only after seeking approval from his head of department.
Clearly both the employee ( in this case the minister of finance ) and the head of department ( in this case the primeminister) are going against the code of ethics.
What is hurting us most as honest citizens is the way this matter is being tackled. Why was this matter not discussed in parliament. This is viewed as sheer arrogance which seems to have become the trademark of this government.
People rarely mention the period when Borg Olivier was prime minister. It was the same situation we have today. Arrogance at its best. The reason then was that PN thought labour would never win the elections because of the Church dispute. Today GONZIPN really believes that PL would never win the elections because of PL past. One word of advise to the PN. People forget and will eventually give PL another chance. Furthermore the votes PN obtained in the last election are nothing to write home about. Moreover do not forget those who did not vote!!!
Anthony Castillo.
Oct 15th 2009, 11:33
All those who are saying that Tonio Fenech in going to see a football game with 2 big busnissman is some kind of a BIG SIN, I think that they are making big fass for nothing especially when the kind of a person like Tonio Fenech is with a record of excellence in politics and also the results he achieved in his ministry by puting the economy of the island on a very good foundation when you compare it to other countries in the EU in this time all arround the world the economy is very bad can speak for his excellence in his work and credibillity. So please for God's sake lets cut it out for the good of the island and think about more important things for the sake of our country and let ONEST people like Tonio Fenech carry on with there job in good faith.
Miguel Micallef
Oct 15th 2009, 11:31
Storm in a teacup, of course.
None of our ministers would ever make a serious mistake, I thought everyone, by now knew this :)
Joseph Aquilina
Oct 15th 2009, 11:14
Still no one asked the very important question on whether the anonymous letter has been reported to the police or not!
P.Bonello
Oct 15th 2009, 11:11
Although as Lino Spiteri said this is a storm in a tea cup, it also show the ever growing arrogance of the Nationalist party by which a Minister disregards the people whom he taxes and pops off to see a football match as if the recession does not exist and people are not feeling the pinch. When, many years ago we had the first oil crisis, the queen of Holland went about on a bicycle to show that she cared.
J. Schembri
Oct 15th 2009, 10:58
"Any serious European Prime Minster would set and expect high standards of conduct from his ministers. Prime Minister Gonzi clearly does not give any importance to this very important matter," Prof. Cassola said.
Well its none other than Sarkozy who actually did that when he came to Malta on the 60 metre luxury yacht Le Paloma belonging to a business magnate.
Storm in a teacup , I would say.
"We're going to watch Arsenal play and wifies won't be coming . There are some empty seats would you like to come and bring the kids with you?"
Peter Paul Bonello
Oct 15th 2009, 10:56
I accept that the young and inexperienced minister made a serious mistake. However on the part of our experienced prime minister It was a massive blunder to sanction it. That, in my humble opinion, is unforgivable and will long remain hanging from PM Gonzi's neck..
J E Gatt
Oct 15th 2009, 10:41
Definitely it is a serious mistake and the minister should resign.