Updated: BWSC to meet Auditor General on Monday
Government and BWSC have become one - PL
(Adds PL statement)
The Auditor General has accepted BWSC’s request for a meeting and although one was also offered to the PL, the latter was avoiding it, the Infrastructure Ministry said.
The Ministry said this evening it could not understand how the Labour Party could consider a story in a newspaper proof of corruption without heeding the conclusions of the Danish police on the article.
Referring to the case of the BWSC, the company which has been given the tender for the new power station, the ministry said the PL were accusing the Danish police and legal system of failing to act and to curb corruption.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday presented the auditor general with investigations carried out by a Danish newspaper which concluded that the company had used bribery to win contracts abroad.
Dr Gatt asked the company to explain the situation to the Auditor General, the company denied the allegation and sent the minister a copy of a letter from the Danish police saying that it was unlikely that a criminal offence had been committed.
The PL said in a statement the assessor did not say whether there had been corruption but that there was probably no cause for action under Danish law.
The ministry said in a statement it could not understand why the PL was objecting to the ministry’s insistence with the BWSC to answer to the allegations made by Dr Muscat yesterday.
It said that although both the company and the ministry directly contacted the PL, the party was avoiding a meeting with the BWSC during which it could ask all the questions it wanted.
The BWSC offered to meet the PL on Monday to explain its view and position to the accusations made.
PL STATEMENT
The government’s defence for BWSC was without precedent, the PL said.
It said that the government’s publication of an e-mail the company sent the leader of the opposition early this afternoon confirmed suspicions that the government and BWSC had become one.
The party said that its director of communications received a telephone call early this afternoon from a communications officer within the Infrastructure Ministry to confirm the Opposition leader’s e-mail address so that he could be contacted by BWSC.
Following months of allegations based on facts, it was only now that the government decided to act, the party said.
The PL said it would be taking all the necessary steps for the benefit of the Maltese taxpayer.
21 Comments
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P Mercieca
Nov 29th 2009, 12:17
@ norman grech and co
PL leader just answered your doubts on one condition that all is said behind closed doors will be made public. Let's see who has anything to hide. Jury is still out
Joseph Scicluna
Nov 29th 2009, 11:27
GHADEK QIEGHED TIGRI MUSCAT. TINSIEX LI HEMM FEKRUNA WARAJK!
R Caruana
Nov 29th 2009, 11:02
@ Charles J. Buttigieg
If the PN's minister has become as spokesman for the winning bidder, then by the same equation, JM and the PL have become spokesmen for the losing bidders.
Anyone can throw mud around, it depends on where it sticks... sometimes it sticks onto the thrower's own hand.
norman grech
Nov 29th 2009, 09:21
@ A.Gauci Cunningham
there is no need for a gove offical to answer your question th PL can answer them for you if they accept to attend the invitatation sent to them by the Minstery and BWSC if the PL do not accept their invitation to ask any questions then the PL are still using the same tactics throw the mud and wash your hands PL welcome back this is the beinging to the PN next victory........
Patricia Mercieca
Nov 29th 2009, 08:56
It's becoming more obvious as time passes that we are living in a 'democratic' dictatorship which is far worse than the latter alone. Whatever on says is evangelical and the others are demonized. Sad
d.magro
Nov 29th 2009, 07:12
Il-ministru Gatt jahseb li hu ghandu xi dritt divin...kollox tajjeb. If the Gonzi PN have the guts, it should re-diiscuss the contract in the partliament and not as it has done, signed it instant and then amended the law to be in line with the EU regulations on emissions. An echo of Poulson corruption incident which dates back to the 60`s ! Mr.Gatt I am a Taxpayer and you as a minister are obliged to make HW before you deal with a company.....you are speending my money!
Ed.Formosa
Nov 28th 2009, 23:38
Why is opposition leader joseph muscat avoiding a meeting with the BWSC during which he could ask all the questions he wanted. ???
Charles J. Buttigieg
Nov 28th 2009, 23:14
Id-difiza tal-Gvern ta’ Lawrence Gonzi ghall-kumpanija BWSC, permezz tal-Ministeru ta’ Austin Gatt li kkonferma ruhu bhala kelliem ghall-kumpanija Daniza, hija bla precedent.
Il-fatt li l-Ministeru ta’ Austin Gatt ippubblika kopja ta’ e-mail li ntbghatet lill-Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni kmieni wara nofs-in-nhar tkompli tikkonferma suspetti li l-Gvern u l-BWSC saru haga wahda.
Id-Direttur tal-Komunikazzjoni tal-Partit Laburista rcieva telefonata kmieni wara nofs-in-nhar mill-ufficjal tal-komunikazzjoni tal-Minsiteru ta’ Austin Gatt biex jikkonferma l-indirizz tal-e-mail tal-Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni biex il-BWSC jaghmlu kuntatt mieghu.
Wara xhur shah ta’ allegazzjonijiet ibbazati fuq fatti konkreti kien biss issa li l-Gvern, haga wahda mal-BWSC, iddecieda li jiccaqlaq dwar dan il-kaz.
Joseph Cauchi
Nov 28th 2009, 22:39
@ A. Gauci Cunningham,
I admire your effort in trying to give your new love (M.L.P.) all the necessary support possible, but one has to be intelligent enough not go over-board and perhaps make oneself look foolish.
Why don’t you ask those questions you have just posted to the right people, i.e. BWSC next Monday when they will be here in Malta?
I am sure they would gladly comply.
And by the way, please resist from trying to fight a losing battle!
Good Luck to your new section, which you head.
JC.
Salvu Felice Pace
Nov 28th 2009, 21:30
Joseph Muscat is being offered a meeting face to face with the company involved. He has a golden opportunity to meet them and clear the matter by asking whatever he likes to ask. He should take it. After all, as he keeps repeating (rather unoriginally) 'is-sewwa jirbah zgur'.
A Mangion
Nov 28th 2009, 21:28
If Dr Muscat and the PL are right as some bloggers seem to be hinting, can Dr Muscat and the PL explain why they are avoiding the meeting with BWSC when they could put forward all pertinent questions. An explanation is solicited.
A.Gauci Cunningham
Nov 28th 2009, 21:20
Will someone from the pro-Gonzi camp please answer these questions---
Why did the company not give info. about the various allegations about contracts in the Philippines, Bahamas and Sri lanka??
Is it true that INTERNAL investigations before May 2000 conclude that BWSC had been involved in bribery???
Is it true that gatt sent the letter to Sorem Barkholt?? is it true Mr.Barkholt was implicated in a case in the Philippines?
Is it true that Mitsui, the mother company, had some of its officials arrested???
Why did Austin Gatt sign this contract behind everyone's back??? Why did he not invite the media??
Is it true that Malta's laws were changed to accomodate BWSC?? Yes or no??
....If you're capable of giving these answers then, yes, The "Borse" is lying and Muscat's naive.....if not then you're just bluffing and "commenting" for nothing or you're just in a frantic run to dismiss the whole thing just because Muscat came into the equation!!!
R.Demajo
Nov 28th 2009, 21:14
I remain vexed at how some are so ready to believe anything the PN throws their way......these PN supporters are starting to sound very much like Labour supporters in Karmenu's time!! I think its time to consider my voting support to go for the Greens or maybe labour!! I can't take this lot and their antics anymore!! Enough is enough!!!! Gonzi must go!!!
V Caruana
Nov 28th 2009, 20:58
Din mhix kwistjoni ta' Pl jew PN. Qeghdin nitkellmu fuq flusna ,flus il-poplu kif qed jitnefqu. well my friends is the ministry (or Dr. Gatt for this matter), the BWSC representative in Malta?
U ghaliex l-Enemalta Ħalqa magħluq? U JEKK BĦAL MA QAL DR. GONZI LI WHISLEBLOWER JITRESSAQ UKOLLJEKK JIKXEF MELA ZGUR OMERTA"!
A.Borg
Nov 28th 2009, 20:56
If alleged corruption and bribery took place in countried beyond Danish jurisdictions, Danish authorities cannot prosecute. The letter by the Danish police precisely states the above, but doesnt absolve BWSC from any misdoing!
Joseph Muscat is right to question BWSC's credibility.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 28th 2009, 20:56
Lets wait, and hope that the necessary investigations are carried out in a proper manner...
For all you folks here, is an email from the party to have allegedly committed the crimes enough for you folks to confirm their innocence?
Once again, the crimes were allegedely committed out of Denmark, so its not statements form the Danish police that are needed.
Tyr and reason this from a taxpayers angle rather than a partisan one....Even if, inb the future the accusations are not proven, any hint of corruption should be investigated no matter what.
IBorg
Nov 28th 2009, 20:04
A far cry from the much touted "new way of doing politics".
Maria Farrugia
Nov 28th 2009, 19:55
Why is government so vociferous in defending BWSC.
They have not one, not two, but so much more reports of corruption in their recent past.
If government was so sensitive why is it asking BWSC now???? It should have investigated the company's background before giving it a 200 million contract which will only be paid through our tariffs.
BWSC have so far defended - very weakly - one case of corruption. Why are they not mentioning all cases of corruption. There are people in jail for similar cases of getting power station contracts.
It's not a case of maybe. It's a fact and Opposition leader joseph muscat is doing the right thing to come out and speak up. If it's not him who shall it be??
Joseph Agius
Nov 28th 2009, 19:46
How irresponsible! They never learn.....who is advising the guy ?
Marco Brincat
Nov 28th 2009, 19:41
This is the typical PL's behaviour!
It's incredible how such things just happen and you have all those Labourites saying: "so what! What's wrong in all this!!!!!"
History repeats itself!!! Indeed!
ALfred Vella
Nov 28th 2009, 19:05
Din tipika tal-labour ! titfa t-tajn u tahrab ?
Issa Joseph Muscat, wara li allega ma jridx jiltaqa mal-kumpanija li fuqa tefha t-tajn u allega korruzjoni.
Hemm tara s-serjeta, dawn f'24 siegha minn mindu ghamel l-allegazzjonijiet fuqhom, wiegbu, baghtu l-provi li qatt ma nstabu hatja ta' korruzjoni u gejjin Malta biex jiddefendu ruhom quddiem l-awditur generali !
Dik serjeta DR. MUSCAT !!! mhux tahrab ... u please note ! din ma kienetx l-ewwel darba !