Gozo Channel claims: Captain accuses inquiry members of conflict of interest
Members of a board of inquiry who investigated claims about serious security flaws on Gozo ferries had a conflict of interest and should not have accepted to investigate the case, ship master Mario Grech said in a judicial protest.
Capt. Grech said in his judicial protest that among the five board members appointed by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech to look into the allegations he had made occupied high-ranking position in the same ministry.
"I question the inquiry report and his (Mr Fenech's) comments after he hid, and misinterpreted, the little truth that emerged," he said in the protest filed against the minister.
Capt. Grech was suspended on full pay - the authorities prefer to say he was removed from the roster and object to the term suspended - after he filed a judicial protest in September claiming, among other things, lack of life-saving equipment and safety drills and the presence of the Legionella bacteria in the ferries' water supply.
Mr Fenech appointed a board to investigate the allegations and asked Gozo Channel to pay the ship master even though he was not on the roster, pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The inquiry report, tabled in Parliament on Monday, dismissed all but one of Capt. Grech's claims and made recommendations to address shortcomings which, however, were "not serious".
In his latest judicial protest, Capt. Grech argued that the board was not appointed correctly because it was meant to have five members not four members as it was originally set up.
Capt. Grech said the fifth member, Ghassan Abdullah, was only appointed after his objections but he questioned this member's objectivity given that, a few months earlier, he had been refused a promotion to the rank of captain after sitting for an interview chaired by Capt. Grech.
Capt. Grech stood by his original claims of safety breaches, saying these were "justified" and confirmed by maritime experts. Although Mr Fenech publicly defended the ferry company, he changed his tune in a private meeting held recently with high ranking officials, Capt. Grech claimed.
He also accused the minister of hiding the "little" truth that emerged from the inquiry, which also exposed the faults of high-ranking officials.
The inquiry accepted only one of the points raised by the captain, that a boatswain had used a forged certificate to get a promotion. However, it was only after the boatswain was given a suspended sentence that the ferry company conceded the allegation was well-founded, Capt. Grech said in his protest.
The claim, in fact, led to the conviction of the officer in question and proceedings are underway against the company's former HR manager.
Capt. Grech accused Gozo Channel of protecting a number of employees by not taking any disciplinary action. "I'm certain I would not have been justified on this point (relating to the boatswain's forged certificate) without the court's judgement."
The board also ignored a cardinal safety maritime rule to "err on the side of safety" if ever in doubt, he said.
Capt. Grech said he refused to obey his superior's orders to lie about the possibility of Legionella in the ferry's tanks by saying the water supply was not working.
He insisted he would continue defending his case and said he would hold Mr Fenech and Gozo Channel responsible for any damages.
Lawyer Kevin Mompalao signed the writ.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
18 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
N.Farrugia
Jun 4th 2010, 15:53
One question I would like to ask Capt.Grech: Why did speak now of a conflict of interest within the board of inquiry? Simply because you lost the case?
Michael Neville Cassar
Jun 4th 2010, 14:39
I was a passenger on many occasions and at one point I asked why the life jackets lockers were locked with a padlock and where the padlock key is kept and one of the crew members told me that the key was on the ships bridge and that they lock them so as not to be stolen. Also although I cannot say what the number of passengers during one crossing was the lounge and decks in my opinion were very crowded. This is why that the enquiry should have been carried by persons of the IMO and not by members chosen from our small island as no matter what the outcome is it can never be believed of impartiality , the safety of the passengers and crew must be paramount on all other company and political interest.
Muscat pat
Jun 4th 2010, 13:48
The saga of Gozo Channel read like a tele-novela. Why did'nt Tonio Fenech go to the Commissioner of Police. The "inquiry" found nothing wrong! How could it? No one bites the hand that feeds it.! Our Ministers are good actors, and as such they could go and try a career in drama, or better still, stick to tele-novelas. In the meantime the country is going belly-up!
david calleja
Jun 4th 2010, 13:41
Capt. Grech - for what this is worth, it is more than obvious who the majority of readers believe here. It is such a breath of fresh air to see someone in this country stand up and take a position on what he believe is right and wrong. In other countries, this case would have been given much greater importance - but this is Malta, so honestly speaking, we hardly expect any better... perhaps we'll get th opportunity to see this case taken up by the media - with appropriate guests invited - hopefully including tdisinterested professional third parties - and the truth will out.
You have restored my faith in my fellow countrymen - yes, there still are people here who believe in standing up for what they believe in.
Good Luck with this - we're rooting for you!
H Galea
Jun 4th 2010, 13:11
I was a passenger and complained that there was no water, and from the crew was told that a case of Legianella. We were also scared even to have a cup of coffee onboard. The stinking toilets without water in flushing, perhaps other passengers remember the time. The Vessel/s were not SEA WORTHY, the Malta Health Authority Should have STOPED the VESSELS AT once. But as always WE TRY TO put the blame ON some one else. This should be reported in NEWS OF THE WORLD. The inquiry report said ,'' claims. were not serious'' DO they know their job,!!! What EVER IS ON iS onboard is Serious Otherwise there is no need tobe fixed on the vessel. When the Time/Need arise then you know how Serious you are ditching the non serious. A vessel is like Malta with all it's daily needs, with a differance that it floats, which makes things worse in emergency.
Mario Attard
Jun 4th 2010, 13:09
I admire people like Captain Grech. He reminds me of Mr. Falzon from Mepa who spoke out about irregularities going on at Mepa. These people are a rare breed in Malta. If only we had many more like these two!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jun 4th 2010, 12:56
An in-house Board of Enquiry, considering the alleged serious shortcomings, resembles an Operetta performed in the village square by village dilettantes. If the Ministry of Transport had nothing to hide they would have called in ‘Bureau Veritas’ the reputable international technical auditors which inspects Gozo Channel’s vessels as well as Air Malta’s aircraft every year.
Joseph Muscat
Jun 4th 2010, 12:46
Well done ,Capt MARIO GRECH for taking the issue about safety on the Gozo ferries specially about fire and life saving equipment, what the minister of finance knows about ships at sea, Malta needs MEN like you to speak up [ NOT COVERING UP FOR UNSAFE COMPANIES ] wish YOU luck CAPT GRECH.
EX-BRITISH/SEAMAN.
Charles Sammut
Jun 4th 2010, 12:32
" 5 board members appointed by Finance Minister tonio Fenech"...my,,my ,,if that's is'nt nepotism,then I wonder what is!?! If I ever get accused with a crime and have to go to court, I would like to choose the members of the Jury, please !
I hope none of you letter writing citizens expect T.F. to resign or to be sacked over the numerous dubious happenings he has been embroiled in..pigs might fly first !
..and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on....( apologies to Sonny and Cher ).
L Fenech
Jun 4th 2010, 10:50
Captain Mario int ghanded mitt ragun. Issa drajnihom l-investigazzjonijet tal-Gvern. Kollha tal-qalba u qieghdin hemm biex jghatu ragun dejjem lill-Gvern. Hu il-kas tad-Delimara. Scerri, Parliament u it-teatru u il buses u il-kapolavur tad-dockyard. Pero jekk trid tidhaq segwi l-invesgazzjonijiet ta'Tonio.
John Falzon
Jun 4th 2010, 10:47
As I see it, the game is still at half time and the score appears to be Captain Mario Galea 1 - Minister Tonio Fenech 0.
L.Azzopardi
Jun 4th 2010, 10:21
Well done Capt. Galea. I hope more people like you stand up and be counted, especially when our safety is at stake. Perhaps one day we will slip out of this banana republic mentality. You have my full support.
Kevin Zammit
Jun 4th 2010, 10:12
I think this says it all ....
"The inquiry accepted only one of the points raised by the captain, that a boatswain had used a forged certificate to get a promotion. However, it was only after the boatswain was given a suspended sentence that the ferry company conceded the allegation was well-founded, Capt. Grech said in his protest."
Well after all Tonio Fenech is the guy who gets free luxury flights to go see a game with the kids and does not think it conflicts with his job ...
J Oatmon
Jun 4th 2010, 09:56
I don't understand what the finance ministry has to do with a maritime dispute? How is iy a finace guy appoints a board for something he is totally unqualified to know anything about?
"board members appointed by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech"
This is like asking an insurance agent to choose the board of enquiry for an airline disaster - very unprofessional.
lgalea
Jun 4th 2010, 09:41
The stinking smell of corruption in everything that the PN Government has a finger is overpowering.
R Agius
Jun 4th 2010, 12:21
You are sooooooo predictable IGalea! I trust one of these days you will make an objective comment based on some substance.
Tony Gatt
Jun 4th 2010, 12:25
It speaks volumes that the person who was rejected for promotion by Capt. Grech sits on the board of inquiry!
How's that for impartiality??!!
T.Scerri
Jun 4th 2010, 16:22
To be honest, I am eagerly awaiting a change of Government to see how Mr. Galea will comment then. I am positively drooling in anticipation.