Updated: MITA chairman to ask Data Protection Commissioner to investigate allegation
Mr Grech, left, with Technology Minister Austin Gatt.
MITA chairman Claudio Grech said that on Monday, he shall be officially requesting the Data Protection Commissioner to investigate an allegation that his position was dangerous to individual freedoms on data protection.
His announcement came a few hours after PL spokesman Michael Farrugia called for Mr Grech’s resignation from chairman of the Malta Information Technology Agency saying his position was incompatible with that of Nationalist Party strategist.
Dr Farrugia was echoing a call for Mr Grech’s resignation by Labour leader Joseph Muscat last Sunday, who said Mr Grech should choose between his job at the MITA and his “frontline” role in the Nationalist Party.
“It is unacceptable that a person is in the counting hall in an election campaign taking care of the Nationalist Party’s data and also heads an agency that has all the personal data of Malta and Gozo,” Dr Muscat said in a political meeting at the Għaxaq Labour Party club.
Dr Farrugia said today that as chairman of MITA, Mr Grech could, directly or indirectly, have access to everyone's data, including that which is sensitive. This was because MITA controlled the systems of all ministries and departments.
He was also in a position to directly employ people at different levels.
Dr Farrugia said that a few weeks ago, Mr Grech exposed himself as PN strategist and as the person who had coordinated the PN's electoral data together with general secretary Paul Borg Olivier, who, in an e-mail sent erroneously sometime ago had said he wanted to coordinate the collection of information from public entities for partisan aims.
Whatever Mr Grech did after office hours was his business but his positions at MITA and in the PN structures were incompatible so he should resign, Dr Farrugia insisted.
But Mr Grech has denied mixing his duties as chairman/director of MITA with other activities he is involved in.
He reiterated that he never allowed his duties at MITA to interfere in his other activities.
He said he always carried out his public duties in the interests of the nation, and the results were evident.
He denied he had access to information from all government systems, saying this was restricted to those who had a technical need for such information, something he did not. This, he said, was something Dr Farrugia, as Labour’s IT spokesman, should know.
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Silvio Abela
Aug 7th 2011, 07:03
Isn't it the norm (or is it the rule) that when a person is a serving public officer above a certain grade, they need to resign from all political party involvement? Isn't that what happened, for example, with Frank Fabri when he was mayor and political candidate and he got a promotion to college principal?
Mr. Grech leads a very sensitive organisation that handles very delicate information his post should be that of no political contact whatsoever. Remember that he advises his Minister on sensitive issues related to his work and whatever he says, his free time should be spent away from political activities. His minister is supposed to represent the whole population first and then serve his party and so should Mr. Grech. Or is it the other way round?
Reno Calleja
Aug 7th 2011, 00:47
Stop trying to pulli wool over our eyes Mr. Grech.
Who appointed the Data Protection Commissioner?. The same Government that appointed you Mr. Grech.
Were was this Commissioner when two members of Parlaiment from both sides of the House, the Hon. Evarist Bartolo and the Hon Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando alleged that their phones were being tapped during the diverce debate? Probably having a nap or enjoyng his high salary . Or laughing his head off.
Mr Grech is a fanatical nationalist supporter. He has a right to be so.
However t he sensitive position he holds does not allow him to be an open activist with any political party.. It seems however that Mr. Grech does not know what ethics mean.
One does not put an alcholic behind the bar serving drinks. .
reno calleja
P Buħaġiar
Aug 7th 2011, 00:32
Arriva drivers are not allowed to do Part-time job as drivers with other company due to 'conflict of interest'
So if this apply for a driver, it applies to all workers in all sectors. It happens all by 'combination' under this goverment. Every employee has to inform his employer for such permission, otherwise is Pure Conflict of Interest. The fish starts rotting from the head.
Lawrence Attard
Aug 6th 2011, 22:26
To those who are replying to this by reminding how things were in the past under Labour,. yes you're right of course...but isnt that precisely therefore why such a conflict of interest should not be allowed in the first place? Otherwise this government would be doing things the way Labout did them in those dark old days. Im sure this is not something anybody in their right mind wants for this country today.
Ms Lynn Zahra
Aug 6th 2011, 21:25
Objective , Blatent CONFLICT of interest. No resignations should be expected. And the harm being perpetrated will not affect the die hards , but it will be another nail in the coffin , along with the 500 euro per week salary increase to the elite club of members of Cabinet.
Mr J Busuttil
Aug 7th 2011, 00:45
@Lynn Zahra
Can you enlighten us if it is true that the PL representative on the Electoral Commission happens to be a director of Super One and also a very senior manager at MITA directly responsible for 'citizen data'.
It also looks like that the nails in the coffin started slowing down and some might be already coming off and if all do the inside of the coffin might finish up being your nightmare.
Ms Lynn Zahra
Aug 8th 2011, 14:25
@ Mr.J.Busuttil:
Why don't you Ask the MLP , Mr.Busuttil?
Mr Anthony Azzopardi
Aug 6th 2011, 21:06
i have not doubt about the integrity of this gentleman but "Caesar's wife must be above suspicion", Malta is a small country and people talk. So better not put oneself even remotely in a dubious position.
Charles Attard
Aug 6th 2011, 20:27
TEhis is blatantly obvious. Both posts are incompatible. As being an importer and assigning contracts. This is pure ARROGANCE
Mr Jeremy J Camilleri
Aug 6th 2011, 19:28
Shame on you PL....there is absolutely no link between Nationalist civil servants, and the party they form part of..Ma tarawx....Can anyone now remind me what the e mail mis sent by Paul Borg Olivier not too long ago stated?
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 6th 2011, 20:18
l-ispizjar milli ikollu ghalik.
Austin Farrugia
Aug 7th 2011, 08:49
Mr M Farrugia
TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE ONE RIGHT
Dominic Fisher
Aug 6th 2011, 19:08
I hope people can see that it is a worrying development that the opposition is ready to impugn a civil servant's integrity with absolutely zero evidence and appears ready to attack people for their politics.
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 6th 2011, 19:41
The "evidence" is clear and conclusive, Mr Fisher. Mr Claudio Grech wears two hats; one as Chairman of MITA, the agency which controls all our personal data. Even if he does not have actual hands-on access, he controls and (more importantly) appoints the people who do. He also wears the hat of PN strategist, advising on election tactics and statistics.
The conflict of interest is clear and undeniable,. It would no be toleated in any country which is not a monarchy and does no depend on the export of bananas.
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 6th 2011, 20:20
@Victor Laiviera. Jaqaw inti insejtu ikl-passat tal-labour party. Niskanta u nimmeravilja kif nies ta certa integrita bhal jitkellmu hekk meta jafu minxiex ghadda il-pajjiz ftit as-snin ilu meta kien hemm il-L.P. fil-gvern.
Mr Julian Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 19:04
As usual baseless allegations by the PL - so what's new? Not a shred of evidence but it doesn't stop them does it? If they have evidence they should go to the Police Commissioner with it - but they won't! Very clever to divert the public's attention from the PL cock up that is Cyrus Engerer!
Nicholas Warren
Aug 6th 2011, 19:26
Agree 100% at this rate all Malta will be without a job as some way or another we are all connected to politically exposed persons, thus making us all not fit to have a job with government agencies/depts etc... can we hear about real issues with real solutions and not just hearing grumbling about this and about that (mind you where it is needed yes please) but at this rate it sounds like Malta is in the 1500s.. and not in 2011!! Ah yeah.. btw when the LP will be in govt are we to expect that none of its supporters close allies will fill in prominent positions!
Noel Abela
Aug 6th 2011, 20:46
The police commissioner is becomeing a very convenient scapegoat. How naive can people like you be, Mr Borg. U min jaghmel dawn l'affarijiet ha joqod iperichom biex jinduna bihom xi hadd iehor. Trid tkun bahnan biex taghmel hekk u is-Sur Grech zgur mhux bahnan.
Joe Fenech
Aug 6th 2011, 19:04
Don't make a fool of yourself, Claudio !
You don't need to be Stephen Hawking to see that the posts you occupy professionally and within PN are incompatible!
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 6th 2011, 20:23
Joe Fenech ma nafx min huwa il-"fool" insejt kemm fil-passat ufficjali tal-Labour Party kellhom karigi importanti fil-gvern. Insejt li ftit ilu membru parlamentari laboirista qal li malli jkunu fil-gvern diga ghazliu in-nis li se jmexxu. Habib il-poplu ma jinsix sakemm ma ikunx xi wiehed minn dawk ta halqhom miftuh prima fruniera fil-meetings li ma jintaqx xi haga u ma jiblahhix
Joe Fenech
Aug 6th 2011, 21:14
M Farrugia, with that kind of petty reasoning, the country continues to sink. Who cares about Labour, and the past. Who've got a stark reality looking you in the face and you're condoning it !!!
guido cutajar
Aug 6th 2011, 18:28
Dan mhux kollu paroli ghal lasti jew fil vojt bhas soltu.... Il P.L. ma jafx x`inhu ghaddej.. Issa qamlu rixu wara li insejna meta erbahna l-ahhar elezzjoni. Mhux min dejjem hekk imxew in nazzjonalisti. Jekk tibda mis sittinijiet kellhom lil Kappillani fil parrocca jiehdu hsieb jigbru id data protection manwali fuq il parrucjani..Jekk hemm xi haga mhux korretta, ghamlu kif ghamlu huma fis sena 1981, u tithlux fil parlament . Ilna aktar min 20 sena jitmejlu binha, nghamlu gimghatejn l-aktar tlieta inparlaw fil vojt, u wara kollox imut fuq rihu..Tasal l-elezzjoni, il poplu bahnan ,jibla il karrotta fl-ahhar xagharejn u jergaw jitilaw il P.N. Illum, ix xellug resaq fic centru, tal lemin resqu fic centru u it tnejn gew haga wahda, ihokku dahar xulxin .
Mr joseph saliba
Aug 6th 2011, 17:51
The 'perception' is that the PL has changed a lot transparency wise. Especially Dr. Farrugia. One can also detect a resignation syndrome since Dr Sant was forced to step down from the premiereship. Mr Grech rightly passed the ball to the proper authorities. Does the PL want to scrap them.
D Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 17:46
Data Protection Commissioner ...... and the PN & PL brigade...... quick i need a bucket!
Well these (of course) honourable gentlemen and ladies - who strive so much to be of service to us the privileged citizens........may well start by explaining how political parties exempted themselves (at least that how they have naively interpreting the DPA) from the salient provisions of the Data Protection Act, and thus both the PN & PL collect, process and retain personal data about us.
Likewise the Commissioner may wish to inform the public what has he done about such illogical, and may I add abusive, status quo!
Mr Jo Camm
Aug 6th 2011, 16:35
HOW CAN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE PL IF ALL THEY CAN SAY IS RESIGN, RESIGN and RESIGN??
robert pace
Aug 7th 2011, 10:39
The answer is how many of the corrupt have resigned ? Dont live behind closed doors open your eyes as you will be walked over.Cant you see the reality of the corrupt few? Do you want to live threatened by
Mps who do not even attend parliament or hardly do? Just dont be brianswahed see around you and if you dont want history torepeat itself just take them out of power . You can never remain there for eternity no matter how super you think you are!!!!
Wilfred Camilleri
Aug 6th 2011, 16:19
There's a simple answer to such issues: members of parliament should not be allowed to hold any other job outside of parliament while they are elected members. Parliament should be run by full time MPs whose only job is representing their constituents. This is the norm in every country. Why is it different in Malta?
Joe Fenech
Aug 6th 2011, 15:36
People in Politics or close to politicians don't resign on this b.... rock ! Malta is the most indecent (supposedly) western country I've ever come across.
Peppi grech
Aug 6th 2011, 17:33
Well said Joe. Hawnhekk kien ,ghadu , u zgur li ser jibqa, lill min taf u mhux kemm taf!!!!!!!!!!
Joe Fenech
Aug 6th 2011, 15:34
Could our politicians start by telling people why Claudio Grech was chosen for such high profile jobs?
He has no briliant career record and is too young. Soon after his Masters degree he was in charge of "implementing electronic policy in Malta" and became "Executive Secretary of the eMalta Commission and e-Government Programme Manager". Let's not forget that abroad a Masters degree is extremely common! My grandchildren's schools in the UK are full of teachers with Masters and PhDs...let alone!
http://www.egov2009.se/wp-content/files_flutter/1256629453ClaudioGrechBioOct09.pdf
To be in the jobs Claudio Grech has and has had , one would have needed big success stories behind oneself. It is a typcially Maltese thing for people like him to become succesful personalities after being given high profile jobs, rather than given high profile jobs because they are successful personalities! It's a matter of putting the cart before the horse!
A BANANA REPUBLIC AND SKY HIGH MEDIOCRITY AT ITS BEST !
http://www.egov2009.se/wp-content/files_flutter/1256629453ClaudioGrechBioOct09.pdf
Nepotism, corruption and short sightedness have destroyed Malta!
Mr Tony MANGION
Aug 6th 2011, 18:00
You are so right and I agree 100%
Mr Joe Mallia
Aug 6th 2011, 18:12
Sounds like Mr Grech stepped on one of your toes Joe. ?
Mr John Micallef
Aug 6th 2011, 18:19
Answer to your first question:
Becauuse Mr. Caludio Grech is probably the brightest star in the herd of sycophants surrounding Dr. Gatt.
Mr Julian Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 18:53
... kienu qed jistennew lilek Joe Fenech imma ma wasaltx ghax mort bl'Arriva..... :)
Mr joseph saliba
Aug 6th 2011, 19:21
destroyed??? You mean like Greece? Like the Socialist Republics?...
Joe Fenech
Aug 6th 2011, 19:34
Most of you people are so engulfed in mediocrity that you can't see anything wrong about promoting nobodies to the highest ranks of the countries and then having them occupying party roles. You should be sorry for yourselves and your progeniture! You condone it, you live with it (no me...!)!!
Mr M Farrugia
Aug 6th 2011, 20:29
ghandek ragun li Nepotism corruption and short sightedness have destroyed Malta u l-gven nazzjonalista ha hafna zmien sabiex jipprova jeqred dan minhabba li hekk kien jigri taht gvern tal-Labour. Qed nitkellem minhabba esperjenzi li ghaddejt minnhom f'dawk iz-zmienijiet, ghal darba, tnejn, tkieta sa sitta zgur
Mr Julian Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 15:14
The PL is mum about their representative on the Electoral Commission - who happens to be a director of Super One and also a very senior manager at MITA directly responsible for 'citizen data'.
D Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 17:48
so 'two' wrongs, makes one right, yes?
Mr Julian Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 18:52
No.....what's good for the goose is good for the gander! or people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones! or this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black! Geddit?
D Borg
Aug 6th 2011, 20:14
No, you're not getting it......
We do not want the PN & the PL to cancel each other out, or as in the case the zip their mouths whilst both of them and their stalwarts run roughshod over basic decency and citizen's rights.
If you (or the PN) have an issue about the person you indicated in your comment - the correct way is to raise these concerns and have matters regularised.
The politics of PN equating the PL and vice-versa, and the tit-tat policies, or worse still f you Jack cause the others are doing the same if not worse, has ruined our country!
Mr Julian Borg
Aug 7th 2011, 00:22
You are making a mega assumption that as Chairman of a Govt Agency Mr Grech would have access to personal data - this is NOT the case. Those who work at MITA know the rigid standards under which the agency operates. A Chairman has non executive powers and wouldn't have a clue how to even logon to the agency's computers - let alone extract and manipulate information. On the other hand a hands on executive would have this access - and I for one would be far more concerned about executive employees than a Chairman.
I am also concerned that the PL, as is its won't, has once again made serious allegations without a sliver of evidence. If they had any evidence then they should have gone to the Police Commissioner and not asked for Mr Grech's resignation. The PL propoganda machine will give the impression that Mr Grech is guilty whilst the Commissioner would have nothing but an extrapolation of logic to go on - and that will result in no action whatsoever.
Charles Micallef
Aug 6th 2011, 15:08
Why is it that if you want a successful future in this Country of ours, all you have to do is to suck up to the politicians, and you will eventually be rewarded, not for your proven ability and experience but for your loyalty and allegiance to a particular political party !
All one have to do to identify these people is to have a good look around you, as they all stand up like sore thumbs! This must be the democratic process that we are so often reminded off!
Peppi grech
Aug 6th 2011, 17:34
u ejja ..... democratic process!!! gharraxni ha nidhaq!!!!!!!!!!
Mr M Mamo
Aug 6th 2011, 14:52
Its getting hilarious now ... I have a grudge that if ever PL is elected, all Nationalists will end up redundant like used to happen in the 70's!!
Mr Jo Camm
Aug 6th 2011, 15:34
Yes it's true. They want everyone to resign. Do they have all the experts ready, IF and when they are in power themselves???
Stephen Koludrovic
Aug 6th 2011, 17:35
@ Joe Camm,
They could always import the experts, similar to the one imported for Air Malta.
Mr Aaron Vella
Aug 6th 2011, 18:13
Yes sure. Did you forget already that the Labour party was, still is and always will be "tal-laburisti u ghal- laburisti"? All these calls for resignations is becoming the order of the day for Joseph. Soon enough even the media will get tired of them. But they didn't call for Cyrus Engerer's resignation, oh noo... They welcomed him with open arms... I wonder why?
Mr Victor Laiviera
Aug 6th 2011, 18:14
The word you want is "hunch" not "grudge", Mr Mamo.
And if your memory goes back to the 70s (NOT 70's), it can probably also stretch to the 60s when, to get a job, you needed a piece of paper signed by the Parish Priest and your local Nationalist MP, certifying that you were a true-blue voter.
Mr Joe Mallia
Aug 6th 2011, 18:14
They don't need any experts, they have Joey know it, do it all.
mark borg
Aug 7th 2011, 07:18
Mr.Mamo,or rather like the 60's in Borg Olivier days were Malta had nothing but beggars.The 70's you are refering to brought ,substainable social services ,housing ,free health care, and scores of government entities that returned millions of liri in our coffers,later ruined and ransacked by your beloved PN.How about letting us know number of Labourites(employed by the government in senior posts) becoming redundant when PN come to power?
Please choose the reason of your report below: