Juan Ameen
Gozo Channel ferry board to decide captain Grech's fate
The fate of the senior shipmaster who claimed there were safety flaws on Gozo Channel ferries would be decided during a board meeting on Friday, company chairman Joseph Grech said.
The captain is suspended on full pay after most of his claims were dismissed in an inquiry report tabled in Parliament last week.
Mario Grech filed a judicial protest in September claiming lack of life-saving equipment and safety drills aboard the ferries and alleging Legionella bacteria was present in their water supply.
He was pulled off the roster pending the outcome of an internal inquiry into his allegations, called by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
The inquiry report dismissed all but one of Capt. Grech's claims, that a boatswain had used a forged certificate to get a promotion. In fact, this had led to the officer receiving a suspended sentence for forgery and the company's former HR manager facing charges.
Capt. Grech is contesting the findings and filed a second judicial protest on Thursday accusing some members of the inquiry board of conflict of interest because, among other things, they held important positions at the Finance Ministry.
He also claimed that board member Ghassan Abdullah could not be objective because he had been rejected in his bid to become chief officer at Gozo Channel by a board chaired by Capt. Grech only a "few months" before.
Both the ministry and Capt. Abdullah have denied the accusations.
The ministry insisted that none of the board members, except Carmel Conti, was a ministry employee, adding that Mr Conti was the Commissioner of Inland Revenue.
Capt. Abdullah said the only time he met Capt. Grech was 15 years ago and not "a few months before" for a job, which he eventually turned down.
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H Galea
Jun 10th 2010, 09:47
Capt Grech, I wish you a great wellcome back, for the Safety of All Passengers My Next Advise And This is Very Important, Watch Out That the Company Will Not Accept You BACK For a Couple of Weeks,,,So as to Strike you OFF From Suspended Leave, and Then You Loose Every Right. Keep this in mind, we are living in times of ALI BABA and the Forty Thives and Might is Right.
J Martinelli
Jun 10th 2010, 05:25
@ lgalea
Why don't you find a remote island somewhere, declare yourself king and make your own rules which only you will follow when you please, if you please, if ever!?
A. Calleja
Jun 9th 2010, 22:05
Captain Grech may have been too rash with some of his comments but surely Gozo Channel should consider reinstating the guy. It might not be in their best interests to surround themselves with "yes" men only. Often such people stay back from making waves because they are not really interested in their company's long term prospects but in protecting the short term status quo. Captain Grech seems to know his onions and certainly has guts. Please give him a chance to voice his concerns and heed them if valid. Let employees that have brains, use them to the benefit of the business. As for Captain Grech he should think twice before washing his employer's potentially dirty linen in public.
L Fenech
Jun 9th 2010, 13:15
Sewwa mela l-ewwel keccejtuh minghajr investigazzjoni u issa tridu taraw xser tghamlu bieh.
Tony Gatt
Jun 9th 2010, 12:45
And no presents for guessing what the verdict will be!
lgalea
Jun 9th 2010, 11:27
If they do not reinstate Captain Grech and pay him whatever he has lost they should be kicked out and made to pay him themselves. This is the thanks Gozo Channel is giving to a responsible person who brought to their attention very serious shortcomings which were threatening the safety and life of Gozo Channel passengers. Those managing Gozo Channel should be ASHAMED.