Thea's parents had agreed case should continue against their daughter - Grace Borg
A garnishee order for €18,000 was issued against Thea Garett personally because her parents agreed in a court case against them that the case should continue against their daughter, since she was now 18, Grace Borg, the co-owner of Exotique Record Label, said in a statement.
Ms Borg said that the original contract was signed duly by Thea’s parents Marion and Sergio in November when their daughter was 17.
Thea today left Malta for Norway today where she will be representing Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Ms Borg said this contract was not questioned by the parents and it clearly stated that nothing in it could be modified unless it was signed by both parties.
Ms Borg also referred to her court case against Public Broadcasting Services and said that this was normal procedure after a legal protest.
She said that efforts were made to solve the situation but there was no goodwill from PBS.
“They took over the management which management still is mine.
“PBS and Thea are collecting money, of which I am owed a percentage,” she said.
Ms Borg warned that she would sue anyone who lied about her company, such as that it advised Thea to say that the song was hers rather than a foreign composer’s.
She said that her company would be watching the proceedings in Oslo and if it felt that the team in charge was not delivering, its members, including the new chairman of PBS, would be held responsible. She did not exclude the possibility of going to Oslo with her partner Andrea Milana.
She said that she and Ms Milana wished Thea the best for the contest, pointing out that a good result was also in their interest.
The greater the success, the more it would pay, Ms Borg said.
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Joe Fenech
May 17th 2010, 18:25
Do people know what a contract is? This is a lesson for those naive people out there who want to be in music thinking it's all about being adulated by the public!
Paul Borg
May 17th 2010, 11:37
To Mr. John Portelli, Oslo is in Norway and a garnish has nothing to do with a garnishee order, quite different when you are at the wrong end !!
Harry Garrett
May 16th 2010, 22:07
With her talents, I hope that Thea Garrett will earn a respectful placing. I consider that the garnishee issued against her before the festival will have some adverse effect on her performance. A brave singer backed by brave parents.
Jason Spiteri
May 16th 2010, 14:25
I bet all the people commenting that 'Grace Borg is all about the money' below would be the first to give up 18,000 euros if they were their own! Hypocrites!
John Portelli
May 16th 2010, 13:04
This is really embaressig for Malta. It's in our news headlines, just before the festival. Can't imagine what fun Swedish and other foreign newspapers would have quoting our Maltese paper articles that a garnish order was issued against our Maltese contestant just one day before she left for the festival. the other thing I have to say as a private citizen is this. Nothing in life comes for free and a lot of young people in Malta (as well as around Europe) expect too many free things. That also goes for not so young people as well. Well, people, wake up once and for all. Nothing in life comes for free and eventually it will catch up with you. And nothing you get should be for free as well. Remember, the money is coming from somewhere, and it is usually from hard working taxpapers.
M.F. Said
May 16th 2010, 12:04
I HAVE ONLY FLEETINGLY READ ABOUT ALL THESE GOINGS ON. HOWEVER, MY IMPRESSION IS, THAT REGARDING MS. BORG, IT SOUNDS A BIT LIKE 'SOUR GRAPES' . WHY BOTHER A YOUNGSTER WITH EXTRA WEIGHT ON HER SHOULDERS? WHY COULD ALL THIS TROUBLE NOT SURFACE AFTER THEA COMES BACK TO MALTA? I SUPPOSE MS. BORG IS COVERING HERSELF IN CASE THEA IS A HUGE SUCCESS! MAYBE THEA, MS. BORG KNOWS A WINNER WHEN SHE SEES ONE. GOOD LUCK THEA !! " IZ-ZEJT DEJJEM JITLA F'WICC L-ILMA " IN THE END.
mary Pace
May 16th 2010, 12:19
The song title is MY DREAM & in her dream is going to keep, if you or anyone thinks , shes going to WIN!! it's not a winning song!!! maybe she do pass through the semifinal, but thats all,!!!
JJ.Rogers
May 16th 2010, 15:20
Sorry to bud in Mr.Said but i don't think somehow Thea's song have a chance in hell of coming anywhere near the semis, its not professional enough, don't mean the singer but the song is absolutly crap and its enough to put anyone to sleep just like last year's entry. I hope i'm wrong but thats the way i see it from where i'm sitting and i am a musician working in London and also around the country, somehow i reckon that the UK's entry this time round stand a good chance, but then again one never knows which way the voting is going to go, its all a mistery with a eurovison contest & as usual most have friends and neighbours.
S. Cassar Laudi
May 16th 2010, 16:22
Don't you think that if Thea were to win, and Grace Borg was to open a case against her after that it would look as if, she was really after money and wants to ride on the success. At the end of the day a contract was signed, it is there for all parties involved to honour it. The old adage ' if I knew then what I know now' comes into play here. I wish Thea all the success as I eagerly wait Eurovision night every year, and have always supported every singer we have ever sent. Some of us have become very much accustomed to villifing Ms Borg when in the end she held up her end of the bargain, did she not? We have not seen the contract and we don't know what is in it so at the end of the day we really can not judge anyone. What is certain is that when these things become public knowledge they seem to get blown out of proportion, when usually it is just a simple matter of honouring what you had committed yourself to doing in the first place.
R.Lewis
May 16th 2010, 11:49
When a contract is signed it has to be honoured, I agree 100%. But on the other hand when somebody signs on your behalf because of age regulations, in this case because Thea was 17 years old, then a fresh contract has to be signed with the consent of both parties when Thea had her 18th birthday. It is something to be decided by a competent Court.
What I cannot understand is why in the first place did Grace Borg come into all this when the Eurovision is a National Contest and is paid for from the tax payers money, mine included.
John Atkins
May 16th 2010, 10:43
Please don`t spoil Thea`s limelight!!
Henry Fenech Azzzopardi
May 16th 2010, 10:39
Il Qawl Malti jghid:
FEJN JIDHOL PEPPI MA HEMMX RISPETTI
Many were those that jumped to conclusions when the case is still sub judice. I dare not take side since this will be dealth with in court. We shall all have the time of our life to hear more about the case.
Then, and only then, we shall have all the right to criticise one side or the other. I undertsand that just as much as Grace Borg has the right to sue Thea, Thea will have all the rights to sue Grace for damages if she wins the court case. So after all it is not that bad knowing that either side may be a winner.
One thiing is definite the lawyers are guarnteed winners.
Thea all Malta is expecting you to do well, enjoy your dream and let the lawyers handle the problem. Maybe some positive lessons will emerge from this whole mess.
Wish you luck.
G.Azzopardi
May 16th 2010, 10:05
There surely is no love lost between most of Malta and Ms. Grace Borg. However in this case, I believe she is correct and given the facts at hand, that a contract was signed, I would be surprised if a court finds against Ms. Borg.
To those pontificating otherwise, may I just sign a contract with you, say for a house sale, I don't give you any deposit and when I want I break the contract and stuff it if you don't like it.
Thea's current success and likeability should have nothing to do with be fair. (given the facts we know)
I am NOT surprised the parents asked for the case to be brought against their daughter. I suspect that the want to ride on the feelings of the people, because they know that some people, devoid of the difference between a nice person and legal stuff, would come out in support of Ms. Thea, thus possible causing a general feeling against this case. That is my opinion, not necessarily so, but if it was me, I would protect my child and leave the case against myself, as the parent and not push it onto my daughter.
mary Pace
May 16th 2010, 09:43
@Mr Portelli, how would you feel,if someone make a contract with you & then they find someone else & leave you?? would you like it?? grace is doing the right thing, she's 18 not a child & when she done the contract at 17, there was her parents . !! A cotract is a contract, it's there so NO EXCUSUSES PLEASE!! you are bind by it,
C.ZARB
May 16th 2010, 09:25
Thea is not Malta's ambassador. She is just an 18 year old singer who is participating in a heavily biased song contest with a brilliant past and a humble present. I am not Grace no 1 fan but she deserves to defend her interest. Lets face it, Grace invested on this girl when no one knew whom this girl was!
A.Tabone
May 16th 2010, 07:07
Well, for once I guess I cannot give Ms.Borg any blame. I don't understand why people here in these comments hold it against her. I am not someone who ever agreed with Grace Borg , but I like to call the black, 'black' and the white, 'white'. And I guess from this article she has every right for what she is doing.
R.Debattista
May 16th 2010, 03:20
As if it was your daughter,,would you do the same???????????Please Grace have a KitKat, do you want me to buy you one???Contract and no contract,please leave this girl in piece.
Joseph Mallia
May 16th 2010, 03:06
Such a big disappointment. If Grace cared so much about her business she wouldn't be handling this in such a way. I'm surprised with her experience she's acting so prematurely. What a negative impact she's making on herself and her business we all know so well. I can only feel petty. Grace this is Thea's dream not yours!! Let her live it and and make us proud and such corporate selfishness like your bringing up should be dealt with later. I'm not going to discuss whether your right or wrong. But a woman of your experience and 'business knowledge' should know how to deal with things better. I'm seriously awed by all this. Easy way to realize why such great Maltese talent can never live up to it's standard. Thanks Grace for opening our eyes to the real Maltese world.
Chris Farrugia
May 16th 2010, 01:27
shame on Thea...
You are not a kid anymore... respect your obligations and respect the people who got you to this spot. It's way too convenient to use someone and ditch them when it suits you.
A.Borg
May 15th 2010, 23:38
Good Luck Thea!!
Manwel Debattista
May 15th 2010, 22:28
Grace Borg is a businesswoman and she's protecting her business interests. In doing so she's also protecting the interests of her employees. She's not successful because she's weak but because she has business sense. I would do the same in her place always of course within legal parameters.
H.J.Anastasi
May 15th 2010, 23:29
Jien mhux se nidħol fuq x'hemm fuq il-Kuntratti u kif inbnew. Dan inħallih f'idejn il-Qrati tagħna. Wieħed ma jridx jinsa li bħalissa THEA hija l-Ambaxxattriċi ta' MALTA u, b'dan l-aġir jista' jkun effettwat Pajjiżna. Jekk hawn min ma jimpurtahx minn dan allura m'għandux jissejjaħ MALTI.
H.J. Anastasi
May 15th 2010, 23:43
Let the Courts decide which party is right or wrong. However, Thea is our Ambassador and this garnishee order may upset her. Indeed, if one does not care about his country...........................
malcolm seychell
May 15th 2010, 22:03
@ stefan portelli.
Contacts have to be respected.
Grace Borg is right. If Thea has a contract she has to deal with her and not anyone else.
Grace Borg, whether you like her or hate her is a successful woman.
It is not fair that people try to use her to get contacts and then leave her on the first occasion that comes up.
I am more then sure that with Grace you can reach a compromise because it is also in her interest that Thea succeeds.
Stefan Portelli
May 15th 2010, 20:22
Grace Borg must be ashamed for the case she opened. Thanks to this person whom should be ashamed of herself, Thea has lost her sponsors I don't care how. WHY DOES BUSINESS GETS ALSO IN THE HEART OF A 17 YEAR OLD WHOM HER DREAM HAS COME TRUE???????
martin saliba
May 16th 2010, 00:45
SHE IS 18. Thats what got her into this mess. If only our polititcians defended our interests as grace is rightly defending hers .
Joseph Vassallo
May 15th 2010, 20:12
So.... Borg and Milani (B&M) are all about money... Did anyone think they are in business for the good of their health? Come on... a contract is a contract. You can't say to someone "Make me recognizable and then buzz off". B&M 1 Thea 0?
On the other hand..... Wasn't Thea a minor when the contract was signed? Surely then, it was with her parents and now she has turned 18 she is at liberty to renege on something they decided for her. In the absence of professional advice, a minor must surely have some protection at law against a parent's poor judgement. It is often said that a lawyer who handles his own case has a very foolish client. B&M 1 Thea 1?
Should PBS have asserted itself when it knew that Thea was under contracted to B&M? Who put up the money for Thea's progress in Italy, B&M or Thea's parents? Definitely not PBS though.
WouId ManU sign Messi without Barca's agreement? (Did someone just shout "Offside"?)
Good luck Thea. Just sing your heart out and let someone else worry about contracts; a lawyer who defends his own... Oops! Sorry I already said that.
lzammit
May 15th 2010, 19:37
Ever a SHAAAAAARRRRRRK!!!
Claire Busuttil
May 15th 2010, 19:20
Grace Borg, hafna drabi ma tigbidx simpatija mil publiku, bil modi taghha veru....pero nies, ipermettuli nighd li din d darba naqbel maghha 100%.................Kuntratt huwa kuntratt, u hadd ma jista imeri dan.
Thea u il genituri, ghandhom jirispetaw il kelma li taw bil miktub meta ifirmaw il kuntratt....
irrid nara lil min qed jighd konta dil haga....jekk kieku hu, x jaghmel.....dan business hux!
Kevin Tanti
May 15th 2010, 19:09
Nahseb kollha kontu tibqghu tistennew il-eurovision jghaddi kieku kontu intom fis-sitwazzjoni ta' Grace!
C.Gerada
May 15th 2010, 19:05
Can't understand exctly the following: "A garnishee order for €18,000 was issued against Thea Garett personally because her parents agreed in a court case against them that the case should continue against their daughter, since she was now 18".... does this mean that the parents cleared their hands and will leave their daughter to take care of everything?
L.Apap
May 15th 2010, 21:21
An 18 year old person is classified as an adult and are responsible for their action whatever.
j.spiteri
May 15th 2010, 18:56
I wish Thea all the best for the contest but on the other hand I would wish her to come last at Borg's expense. What a dirty dyke!
A. Borg
May 15th 2010, 18:44
Grace Borg ghanda ragun. It-timing biss huwa hazin. Kuntratt huwa obbligu li jrid jigi onorat kemm fit-tajjeb u kemm fil-hazin. Ghalhekk ghandek tixtarr sewwa dak li qed joffrulhek qabel tiffirma ghax imbaghad ikun "Too late" biex tmur lura minn minn kelmthek u jekk bniedem ma jzommx kellmtu x'jibqa fih?
Mike Farrugia
May 15th 2010, 18:23
It is shameful how sharks are always ready to take advantage of innocent under-age individuals. Why didn't you wait until she was 18, and only then let her make her own decisions rather than buying her from her father?
I compare this to Muslins making wedding arrangements for their daughters with elder men for camels and mules.
Alistair Duncan
May 15th 2010, 18:15
So for those in favour of grace: dont u think li dawn kollha bsaten fir roti?ahna ahna jew mahniex?let the girl fullfill her dream!wish u all the best of luck Thea
philip pace
May 15th 2010, 18:09
To all bloggers who have criticized Ms Borg know nothing on how the music industry works.
A contract is a contract no matter what!
A contract is for both parties to work together for a common goal but the real culprit here is the PBS as they should have known better or incredibly they were wrongly advised by their lawyer.
They should have met MS Borg to work out and solve the problem.
Either they did this on purpose to provoke Ms Borg to take action (and to safe guard her interest she splendidly did and was proved right) or they are a bunch of incompetent fools put there by other fools.
Anyway the trashy Eurovision never interested as it has lost its appeal a long time ago!!!.
Robert Bezzina
May 15th 2010, 18:03
Now we'll soon see the G. B. propaganda in this blog. Just wait for it!
A. Borg
May 15th 2010, 18:50
Igifieri ghalik Demokrazija tfisser li nisimghu naha wahda wahda biss tal-munita. Proset.
Joseph Micallef
May 15th 2010, 18:01
Sure go ahead wish her well and send her to compete with the burden of €18,000 on her head - nice send-off to do well indeed!!
J.Xuereb
May 15th 2010, 17:58
To All those who are in favour of Thea; well, Thea and her family knew about this case way before she won the Maltasong. They knew what the contract was about, and Grace Borg had informed them about the risks, so why did they persist? In life you get what you go for!!! And please stop protecting what is wrong!!!
TONY F|OR|MOSA
May 15th 2010, 17:52
* HERE WQE GO AGAIN ! THE EUROVISION IS MOST ENTERTAINING FOR THOSE WHO
FOLLOW THE FORTUNES OF THE MALTESE REPRESENTATIVE.
IT's NEVER A DULL MOMENT.
WE WILL HAVE THE SAME FOLLOW-UP STORIES ON THE MEDIA AND THE SMALL
SCREEN. PATHETIC. CERTAINLY NOT MY SCENE.
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FO|RMOSA
X borg
May 15th 2010, 18:28
Couldn't agree more... What a sheer laugh!
James Duca
May 15th 2010, 17:51
Would u be doing the same Ms.Borg,if it was your daughter in the same situation???
I am not saying that you don't have a right to proceed with legal matters,but if you really care about the child,you would have done this after all is over.From the look of it,this will certainly be working against you dear.Good luck Thea
Dennis Zammit
May 15th 2010, 17:47
To DISgrace Borg
a % of nothing is NOTHING
100% of nothing is just the same NOTHING
Remove the garnishee order immediately and let Thea perform peacefully. Things can be arranged later.
Mark Seychell
May 15th 2010, 17:43
Grace Borg, give the girl a break, you are ruining what may well be the best yet most tedious week of her life
N.Calleja
May 15th 2010, 17:29
From the look of things, Ms Borg is all after money! This should open young singers' minds that around them only sharks swim. Ms.Borg is wishing Thea Garrett success..how very sweet of her issuing a garishee of 18000 euro as a present on the eve of her departure to Oslo. Good Luck Thea we are all behind you ...except Ms Borg!!
M Muscat
May 15th 2010, 17:26
Funny
S. Caruana
May 16th 2010, 12:53
Agree totally!!! What a shark!!! It's all about MONEY and zero sensitivity towards our young ambassador's big time. This is the limit!!!
Shame on her!!! Couldn't it have been sorted calmly on Thea's return??? NOOO! human sharks work differently............. shame shame shame!!!!! She shouldn't even be allowed anywhere near Thea in Oslo pretending to be a well -wisher!
To whoever it may concern: Protect our young ambassador in Oslo pls. Keep her away from sharks!
Fenech M D
May 15th 2010, 17:25
Flus biss qed tara Ms G!
Alistair Duncan
May 15th 2010, 17:22
u hallina grace hemm mohhok int biss fil flus u xejn izjed! Stajtu hallejtu il eurovision jghaddi imqar mhux taghmlu hafna pressure fuq it tifla bla bzonn,umbghad jekk int dovuta xi flus tirrangaw wara,ara tigix tghid li il kantanti maltin ghal qalbek u taghmel dak kollu possibli biex jimxi il quddiem.GHal qalbek imma il but hanini!