Malta Enterprise rejects discrimination claim over Wenzu Mintoff's role

Malta Enterprise this evening stood by its position that its legal adviser Wenzu Mintoff has a conflict of interestdue to his position of editor of KullHadd, the Labour Party's Sunday newspaper.

In a statement in which it did not mention Dr Mintoff by name, ME said it regretted that the matter has been subjected to a political agenda when this was a matter of internal discipline and control in the best interest of the corporation and its clients.

"The position of an editor of a newspaper brings with it a legal responsibility over the entire content of a newspaper. Such legal liability cannot be entertained in parallel with the legal responsibilities incumbent on the employee's office. Whether implicit or perceived, the conflict of interest is unequivocal and irreconcilable," Malta Enterprise said.

The issue was first revealed by The Sunday Times last month, when it reported that ME had asked Dr Mintoff to choose between his job or his post with the newspaper.

The issue was then raised at the PL annual general conference, where deputy leader Toni Abela accused the agency of discrimination.

"Wenzu Mintoff was accused of having a conflict of interest but the same company that employed the Nationalist Party's international secretary," Dr Abela said.

Malta Enterprise in its statement today said that it never withheld Dr Mintoff's conduct of and participation in political radio programmes, his regular political contributions in the press or any other political office occupied by the employee. This, it said, went a long way to refute any claims of political discrimination.

It also insisted that there were absolutely no precedents within its organisation on such matters, despite what had been claimed.

"No employee in these two entities has occupied the post of editor for any media organisation"

"The individuals mentioned in sections of the media are contractors of Malta Enterprise and Malta Industrial Parks. To this effect, the two entities have on its books contractors from both sides of the political divide."

Malta Enterprise said it would endeavour to carry out its duties as established by law in the best interest of its clients and investors.