Kurt Sansone
Should he stay or should he go?
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.
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Franco Farrugia
Oct 16th 2009, 11:32
@ Galea L: Well, Mr Galea, notice the way I comment - and notice how I naturally call a spade a spade. Contrary to you, it's wishful thinking that this country is governed well by people who are prepared and capable of doing so.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 16th 2009, 09:10
@ Mr Mercieca - I will not have you suggesting that people such as myself have some axe to grind about this matter. The purpose of my protestations, speaking for myself at least, is to show that arrogance within the Government is getting nobody anywhere.
Whether they were businessmen or something else that you might call them, that is not the point. The point is that Minister Fenech is a member of the Government who went to watch a stupid football match with young relatives aboard a privately-owned jet. Given the circumstances around which the country is going now, that in itself is a scandal!
The fact that he went on board a jet with businessmen who are interested in a particular sphere of which a law is being processed through Parliament, of which he, the Minister, is a prime mover/actor, also speaks against him.
The fact that Minister Fenech reportedly asked for the PM's clearance continues to show that there was more to it and that even he, the Minister, had some doubts about it.
This is the stark reality coming from someone who is honest, sincere - and with no political blinkers! An apology would have been enough!
Galea. L
Oct 15th 2009, 22:53
Franco Farrugia
Was just trying to put some laughter in a dismal world, but since you mentioned it, let's see how long it will remain wishful thinking Franco.
Joseph Vassallo
Oct 15th 2009, 20:19
This reminds me of all the fuss that was made in UK every time a certain Tony Blair went on holiday to Italy staying at villas belonging to businessmen. As I remember, there was nothing secretive about those holidays as indeed there is nothing secretive about this minister's short journey with two prominent businessmen. Would anything have been different had they all travelled on Air Malta and Iberia jets? Even if business was discussed, I think you should have enough faith in your elected politician to trust him to discuss and negotiate with anyone and everyone when this is in the public interest. How many of you haven't ever sought a private meeting with some minister or other; and how many former ministers/politicians have never granted private interviews to constituents be they princes or paupers? I suggest you should all give it a rest, climb down from your bandwagon and let the man get on with his job.
Denis Catania
Oct 15th 2009, 18:49
GO
m.portelli
Oct 15th 2009, 15:50
Why bother writing a ministerial code of ethics if it apparently does not apply to a minister's conduct given the PM's non-action? I find it incredulous that elected members of parliament present (and past) can be so indulgent towards such behaviour. How can such an attitude help the democratic process? It seems some are loath to part with old ways and there is no political will for a cultural overhaul in politics. The electorate's views and democratic aspirations past election day are of no consequence it seems to the PM, ministers and MPs . European Malta deserves worthier MPs. Are our elected representatives legitimising such behaviour since they fail to condemn it?
Charles Zammit
Oct 15th 2009, 12:53
I always held Mr. Spiteri's ability to analyse matters of political concern in high esteem. Sorry to say I disagree with Mr. Spiteri's description of the matter (a storm in a teacup) this time. In my view Mr. Spiteri's attempt to lessen the gravity of the Minister's folly only makes the matter worse. It almost sounds like Mr. Spiteri, who incidentally shares directorship responsibilities in Tumas Investments plc along with George Fenech, the businessman on whose private jet Tonio Fenech flew to watch the Arsenal game, is also coming to the rescue of Minister Tonio Fenech.
I cannot say whether this is a case of elastic measures and double standards. Having said that Mr. Grima's analysis seems to be more on the virtuous side.
john fenech
Oct 15th 2009, 10:42
If the government insists that ethics are for others to observe than the door is wide open to the other Ministers and secretaries not to mention the entire civil servants to follow in the Minister’s footprint!
The less said by the authorities concerned about the incident the better on the other hand the government must send a clear and unambiguous message that integrity is non-negotiable. Otherwise, God must be frequently in their corner to spare us further grief in the remaining term!
J E Gatt
Oct 15th 2009, 10:38
Ghalhekk is-sur Spiteri jghid a "storm in a tea cup" ghax hu direttur ta' Tumas investments.
Prosit lil Dr Sapiano li jifhem xi jhossu n-nies.
Anthony Mercieca
Oct 15th 2009, 10:28
Erring? corruption? What is actually Minister Tonio Fenech guilty of? Is he being asociated with persons in business or sleeze? Whoever is condemning TF, should provide an answer, otherwise it is only an issue of interpretation and suspicion. For what reason? Nobody knows, except that the people involved are business persons. Are these corrupt persons? Whoever is accusing TF must have an answer. Reality is that politicians are in everyday contacts either being requested assistance or a favour. Is this bad, if the favour in most case is helping someone unemployed to find a job? Such "favours" are not the prerogative of a minister, but all politicians do it because they are all friends of enterpreneurs and can somehow accomodate the needs of third parties due to job creation. Perhaps complaints on the issue are that it appears that the TF might be heed more for such requests? Who are we kidding here? It is more than obvious such is only a smear campaign against an honest human, who might err but is definitely not corrupt, above all a very promising minister. Be careful Tonio, the more successful you be, the more hounded you end up....just as was Minister Dalli.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 15th 2009, 10:18
@ Galea L: Come on, sir. We know what you think. If it were up to you, the whole Government would resign! But that's your wishful thinking. What I am after is for this Government to get back on track! For the interest of the country as a whole and not to satisfy one's political beliefs.
Galea. L
Oct 15th 2009, 10:07
Also the song "Should I stay or should I go" by the group Clash in their album Combat Rock
Galea. L
Oct 15th 2009, 10:04
Reminds me of the song "Leaving on a jet plane" by Peter Paul and Mary
Franco Farrugia
Oct 15th 2009, 09:57
Actually, what Dr Georg Sapiano states is exactly what I feel. That's hitting the nail on the head. Well done.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 15th 2009, 09:56
The whole question boils down to the fact that the Finance Minister should have been prudent - which he was not - and at least he should have apologised for this 'storm in a tea-cup - which it was not, Mr Spiteri.
We are living through difficult times. By this, I mean that Government funds are low and thus, naturally, the Government is cutting down on expenses and as a result of this, some sections of the population feel the brunt of this cutting down. Various sections of the population are also suffering.
In this light, one would expect the Government Ministers to be wise and sensitive in their decisions - even those that affect their private lives. It is in this light that I still maintain that Fenech should have at least apologised, rather than arrogantly stating that he did nothing wrong and that he had the PM's confidence. At the end of the day, Mr Fenech, it is the people who elect you to Parliament, not Laurence Gonzi.
However, the PM should have had the courage to state that Fenech transgressed. This was not forthcoming and it is a real pity.