Mimcol CEO denies superyacht privatisation corruption claims
The superyachts facility at Malta Shipyards.
Mario Mizzi, CEO of Mimcol and a member of the Privatisation Unit, this morning filed a judicial protest against Paul Cardona, claiming that Mr Cardona had made false corruption allegations about him to the police. The case involves the privatisation of the superyachts facility of Malta Shipyards. Mimcol is the holding company of government enterprises.
Mr Mizzi said he had never heard the allegations before he was called in for questioning by the police. He said he could not understand how he could be faced with such allegations when the tendering process had been called off and when, according to Mr Cardona himself, this allegation went back more than 18 months.
Mr Mizzi said such allegations of corruption were completely false, slanderous and without foundation.
He explained that Mr Cardona through Marine Consultancy Services Ltd, formed part of one of the bidding consortia for the superyacht facility. This consortium, in the view of the Evaluation Committee, did not meet the necessary requirements. Neither did the other consortia which submitted proposals, and the Privatisation Unit had therefore invited them to participate in a new call for tenders with better offers.
He said that some of the bidders had joined forces for the second bid, while the consortium which included Marine Consultancy Services protested over this development.
Subsequently the Privatisation Unit stopped the process.
Mr Mizzi said that whatever Mr Cardona's aims were, the fact remain that the bid of the consortium for which he worked had not been selected because it was not satisfactory.
The process had been handled in a meticulous and honest manner by the Privatisation Unit, Mr Mizzi said, and Mr Cardona's claims were malicious and aimed at casting a bad light on a transparent process.
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John Zammit
Mar 27th, 20:48
This is a mystery. I am Commander of the ship.Someone brings to my attention that the ship I am on is taking water.Instead of repairing it I leave port and try to hide from the passengers on board.In this case not only the captain new about the leakage but also the Officers Close to Him ( ministers).Was there the need for the Leader of the Opposition to reveal what was gong On.And PBO The PN general secretary why he was also questioned by Police.
lilly vella
Mar 26th, 22:08
ma nafx x kien qed jistenna l pm , biex jirraporta l kas lil pulizijja , qabel ma kien qal li ilu jaf.
J. Buhagiar
Jul 30th 2010, 13:59
I can only hope that the Nationalist party understand that I am doing them a service using my time to write this.
I heard Arnol Cassola say on TV that for example, a piece of land that was significant was given for a few thousands (I think he said 100,000) to build loads of apartments that cost loads more (i do not remember if he said that it was a hotel but i think he was iluding to that) and that Goverment has been promising to discuss the issue that was about Donations really, since 1995.
People like me never gave the support of the bad practices we used to hear off during the times of Lorry Sant etc. We voted against!
Some of us may have voted NP during the last elections too after hearing Dr. Gonzi on TV and his highly directive and convinicing promise of a new way of doing thing.
If we continue to hear about such levels of non-conformance to what one would consider to be professional, now that we joined the EU and the high level of expectation this brought with it, do not count on floating voter support. Too many flaws continue.
Stephen Saliba
Jun 1st 2010, 18:45
All this talk about whisleblowers etc. This is an absolute minefield. For one I would have the whistleblower being obliged by law to hold or direct investigations to some tangible proof. Otherwise we would have half the population pulling stunts on the other half (which we all seem to be so good at unfortunately). Then put in place ONE correct structure (legal, executive) as to how such claims will be handled and not call the police for that, call the ombudsman for the other or invoke the committee against corruption and so on and so forth. Unfortunately when there are no clear guidelines things are bound to go haywire and you end up having people making possibly unfounded claims with dire consequences which must not go unchecked. At the end of the day it is the truth that must be paramount. And proven.
charles taliana
Jun 1st 2010, 17:37
The government should issue a Legal Notice or form a Legislative Law which should
stipulate the lenght of time of no more than 6 (SIX) months for these anomailes to be brought forward otherwise persons/personages who always think of how to try and destabilise
the procedures as we say in the english language SHOULD LUMP IT OR HUMP IT.
John Micallef
Jun 1st 2010, 15:35
@ Mario gellel
Min gie l-ewwel it-tigiega jew il- bajda??
Mhawda wahda sew il- biegha qisa! Ghax qisu lanqas min seta hawwad fil- borma ma jaf x'fiha ezatt!!
Mid-dehra il- Vizjoni 2015+ : Min jigi misthareg jibda ibghati bid-dimenzja (bir- rispett kollu lejn min ibghati biha genwinament?) ghax fil- kaz tal- BWSC u f'dal kaz in-nies involuti huma vitmi ta dimenzja akuta!
Kevin Azzopardi
Jun 1st 2010, 15:29
so much for the whistle blower's act. As usual under this arrogant government. You try to bring to the attention of the govt irregularities, and get punished for it. There's a maltese saying which goes really well. something to do with walking.......
mario gellel
Jun 1st 2010, 15:22
First we get the news that the PM heard of this scandal from Joseph Muscat (ie)8months after it happened. Now we get anouther late news that the CEO found out that "corruption claims " are being made on him right now from the police.
JAQAW VISION 2015 HIJA VISION NAQAW F'KOMA???