Updated: Opposition calls on Gatt to withdraw from power station hearings

The Opposition this evening moved a motion calling on Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt to withdraw or be made to withdraw from the Public Accounts Committee while it hears testimony in connection with the power station extension contract.

The motion was moved by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, who pointed out that Dr Gatt had been the person who as minister was mostly responsible for the power station extension contract and people asked to give evidence may not feel comfortable giving their testimony and replying to questions from the person they had worked or were working for.

Mr Bartolo said that Dr Gatt had, in meetings held so far, intervened when officials of the National Audit Office were questioned.

Dr Gatt said he would formally reply to the motion in another meeting of the committee.

Most of today’s sitting was devoted to procedural issues, many of which will have to be resolved through rulings of the Speaker, while procedures for the hearing of witnesses have to be agreed by the House Business Committee.

The committee, however, agreed to an Opposition request to ask the Auditor-General to investigate new information which came to light after he completed his report on the power station extension contract.

Labour MP Evarist Bartolo said he had given the auditor documents which showed how Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, one of Enemalta's creditors, and and power station contract winner BWSC came from the same Mitsui family.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Nationalist Party observed that during the sitting, Mr Bartolo had initially insisted that an investigation should be conducted into links between some of the bidders for the contract and SumiMoto Bank

The PN said no bank of this name existed, but there was a company which produced tinned fruit. The corporation’s lending was from the Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the PN said.