Wenzu Mintoff has 'irreconcilable' conflict of interest
Malta Enterprise is standing by its position that its legal adviser Wenzu Mintoff has a conflict of interest due to his position as editor of KullĦadd, the Labour Party's Sunday newspaper.
In a statement in which it did not mention Dr Mintoff by name, it yesterday said it regretted the matter had been politicised when this was an issue of internal discipline and control in the best interest of the corporation and its clients.
"The position of a newspaper editor 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 week, when it reported Malta Enterprise had asked Dr Mintoff to choose between his job or his post with the newspaper.
The issue was then raised at Labour's annual general conference, where deputy leader Toni Abela accused the agency of discrimination.
"Wenzu Mintoff was accused of having a conflict of interest by the same company that employed the Nationalist Party's international secretary," Dr Abela said.
Malta Enterprise yesterday said 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 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."
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Joseph D Borg
Feb 3rd 2010, 09:41
@ Igalea
Yes I do remember all that, that’s why, is was just a dream
lgalea
Feb 2nd 2010, 18:27
Karl Abela Very poor effort? Why should people be treated differently? Have you ever heard of discrimination Karl? And why should Malta Enterprise be ruined because Dr Mintoff is employed with it? And don't you know that previously we had MCD? Ask Dr Mario Vella how he was discriminated against under the EFA PN Government and I am sure that he will gladly tell you.
Conflict of interest does not arise only by being a newspaper editor, but by occupying positions with different companies when those companies or companies group tender for and get contracts of an enterprise of which one is a chairman.
Joseph D Borg
Do you remember "Sallbu, Sallbu, Sallbu?
Do you remember "Suq hawn jien"?
Do you remember "Fejn huma l-Laburisti"?
That's the brotherly reconciliation promoted under EFA's leadership.
J. J. Borg
Feb 2nd 2010, 18:23
Fire him!
Joseph D Borg
Feb 2nd 2010, 14:10
Once Dr. Fenech Adami had a dream about national reconciliation and that we can live in Malta like brothers & sisters “ahwa Maltin” and today more then 20 years latter we still witnessing people losing there jobs for political reasons.
I think that in 3 years time we will have a labour government and a witch-hunt will start all over again but this time it will be the pn supporters that suffer.
National reconciliation was a nice dream but unfortunately our Maltese mentality cant live without political hatred
E. Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2010, 14:06
@ J.Farrugia - taf xkien gara fi zmien il-Labour, xi hadd kien zamm il-gurnal ufficjali tal-Labour ( mhux cert jekk kienx Il-Helsien ) milli jidhol fl-Sptar u tal-Labour marru quddiem l-Inglizi u rebhu l-kawza, tiftakar jew ?
Jien nistaqsik meta il-Gvern Nazzjonalista qieghed jaghmel tant gid, min jista jaghmillu hsara tremenda. Mela n-nies se jaghtu kas dak li jghid jew jaghmel Wenzu Mintoff. Pero imbaghad toqghodx tgerger jekk meta jkun hemm tal-Labour fil-Gvern jaghmlu l-istess.
C.camilleri
Feb 2nd 2010, 13:12
Can anyone from the PN assure us that there are no appointed chairman or directors who has no conflict of interest?
If they believe that there are none than they probably lives somewhere far, far away.
People living in Malta are not easily fooled by PN gimmicks anymore.
I wish to show solidarity with Dr.Mintoff.
David Buttigieg
Feb 2nd 2010, 12:05
@IGalea
What political newspaper is the Enemalta chairman editor of?
J Farrugia
Feb 2nd 2010, 11:38
Fi zmein il-labour kont taghmel dak li qed jaghmel Wenzu Mintoff. Trid tghid kemm ghandna gvern miskin li jhalli lil nies tal-opposizzjoni f'posizzjonijeit fejn kapaci jaghmlulu hsara tremenda.
Karl Abela
Feb 2nd 2010, 10:35
@lgalea
Is this your answer to excuse Wenzu Mintoff's situation? Very poor indeed.
In any case, the Malta Enterprise is one of the best things that can happen to our country and the effort it does to attract investment to our country is tremendous. Let's not ruin it.
lgalea
Feb 2nd 2010, 10:09
What about the Enemalta chairman and many others appointed by the Gonzi regime Malta Enterprise?