Juan Ameen
Ferry captain threatens minister with defamation suit
The shipmaster who made safety flaws allegations against Gozo Channel Co. said he would sue the Finance Minister for defamation unless he withdrew a statement that the captain had been sidelined for a promotion before he made his claims.
In a judicial letter, Captain Mario Grech denied he was ever interested in becoming CEO of the ferry company and he never even applied. On the contrary, the company's former chairman had offered him the job years ago but he refused, Capt. Grech said.
He called on Finance Minister Tonio Fenech to withdraw an official statement issued through the Department of Information on June 4 in which Mr Fenech pointed out that Capt. Grech had applied for the post of CEO but was not chosen.
The judicial letter is the latest in a barrage of claims and counter-claims made by the captain and the ministry. It was filed on Wednesday against the Finance Minister and the Department of Information.
In its statement, the ministry had said it could not say that Capt. Grech's failure to get the CEO position was the reason for his persistent and "unfounded" allegations but it felt it had to point out the fact.
In his judicial letter, Capt. Grech said he was surprised how a minister, who was supposed to be well informed about what took place in his ministry, stooped to making allegations that were false and senseless. Such action would have been expected from someone who used mud-slinging to hide the truth, he said.
Capt. Grech described Mr Fenech's actions as inexplic-able and his ministerial statement as defamatory. He called on him to withdraw it within 10 days or face legal action for defamation.
The case goes back to September when Capt. Grech filed a judicial protest against the ferry line claiming serious safety breaches and fraud in the promotion of a boatswain.
He also opened a lawsuit against Gozo Channel Co. contest-ing its decision to suspend him on full pay after he made the claims.
Capt. Grech's claim about the boatswain was proven in court but a board of inquiry dismissed all other allegations and made recommendations to address shortcomings which, however, it said were "not serious".
Lawyer Kevin Mompalao signed the judicial letter.
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Joseph Muscat
Jun 13th 2010, 12:55
@Captain Grech I praise you for your determation to chalange the minester who got himself envolved in this case, I am sure you know your job more than they know their`s what the minester is doing nothing less than covering for someone,[ another corrupted case.]
safety at sea is priority,does he know that?
l,theuma
Jun 13th 2010, 10:02
The only person on board resposible for the ships safety and security is the captain. No other person can interfere in his decisions. Is Malta exempt from International maritime law?
eric psaila
Jun 13th 2010, 08:29
It is surprising that nobody is defending the government on this latest news of capt Grech's saga.
I take it as a clear sign of a growing swing against the present government. Pn should do the honourable thing and resign as this party has lost the confidence of the people.
Keep up the pressure Capt Grech. Whatever happens you have shown to one and all that you are a man of honour.
cassar ian
Jun 12th 2010, 23:18
Ma nahsibx li dan il Kaptan huwa mignun w ha jissogra xogholujew il licenzja ta captan kemm mal gozo channel jew ma xi bastiment iehor. Jien il dan il persuna nemmem hu la il gozo channel , ministru kummissjonijiet boradijiet etc ghax kollha ma fihomx hobz.
l fenech
Jun 12th 2010, 18:14
Prosit Captain Grech. Fight for your rights against these bulldozers.
leo attard
Jun 12th 2010, 15:05
why is capt. grech surprised that the finance minister is not aware of what is going on in his office. it's the general trend --- the PM wasn't aware of the corruption regarding the yacht privitization when everyone else was; Ms. Dolores Christina was 'in the dark' regarding the mismanaged funds; the PM claimed he signed a document and he wasn't aware of what was onit because he himself claimed he hadn't read it ---- i hope this answers cpt. grech's question.
H Galea
Jun 12th 2010, 14:40
Capt M Grech, I repeat Might is right, next move it was a misundrestanding and more spokes in the wheel. These are the Laws of the Jungle of the dirty dozen.
Raymond Cutajar
Jun 12th 2010, 13:17
this should be captivating !
keep it up Sir-er Captain Mario Grech , many are behind you as those who never allows smokescreens so crafty kneided by offices of the govt. that the politicians always feel immune as to whatever they feel to say even whenever there is so much exhorbitantly overwhelming evidence contrary to what they say with the premise that No witnesses and nor any proof without reasoneabile doubt has been produced at court of law irrispective that their fancy irresponsabile and totally illigal course of action Smudges the innocent victim to ruin .
Well done once again capt M.Grech
Emanuel Farrugia
Jun 12th 2010, 13:16
When is the Whistleblower Act going to be presented in Parliament ? Meta jigi d-dubbien l-abjad ?
N.Lawrence
Jun 12th 2010, 10:56
Why wait. Go ahead and sue.
R.Abela
Jun 12th 2010, 10:53
Malta need people like Capt Mario Grech especially in parlament. Not puppets on a string. We are supposed to be ful democratic Island, not Yes Men as we were under British rule.
DArren J. Galea
Jun 12th 2010, 10:13
Isn't it ironic? The man who should be a leading political light in Malta is actually a suspended employee, and the man who should be a suspended employee is a politician. Quo vadis Malta?