Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando asked today what disciplinary action will be demanded by Finance Mnister Tonio Fenech after the chairman of Gozo Channel ordered a ferry to return to the port of Mgarr to pick him up.

Dr Pullicino Orlando, writing in his facebook page, referred to the story carried in The Sunday Times yesterday , saying this was a case of arrogance by the chairman, Joseph Grech, who had demanded that the ferry return so that he and his wife would not be late for a dinner in Malta.

Dr Grech, a Gozitan, was on his way to Malta with his family on November 12 aiming to catch a ferry at 7.30 p.m., not realising that the winter schedule of the company he is responsible for dictates that the ferry leaves port at 7.15 p.m.

Baffled commuters found themselves being taken back to Mġarr, after the chairman demanded that the ferry be turned back.

The ferry moored again, lowered the ramp and allowed Dr Grech to drive aboard. Another patron in a black Jaguar who missed the ferry also benefitted from the vessel's return to base. Dr Grech could not be contacted despite several attempts, but the Finance Ministry, which is responsible for the national ferry service, confirmed the incident.

A spokesman for the ministry said the detour caused a delay of five to 10 minutes, but added that the minister deemed the behaviour unacceptable.

"(Finance) Minister (Tonio) Fenech expressed his disappointment with Dr Grech at such behaviour and emphasised the need for more exemplary behaviour in the future," the spokesman said.

The ministry said Dr Grech had apologised and would like to extend his apologies to Gozo Channel customers.

The Sunday Times also asked if Dr Grech had offered his resignation and if the minister felt he should be sacked in the circumstances. However, no response was forthcoming.

Prior to contacting the ministry, The Sunday Times had sought to confirm the information with Gozo Channel's own management, but operations manager George Borg kept insisting he knew nothing about the case, though he asked for the source of the information.

"I know nothing, I know nothing about this, I have no idea, but who told you about this?" he said. When told that disclosing the source would not be possible, he said: "Oh well, I don't know then, but who told you?"

Only last September, the board chaired by Dr Grech was engaged in a public tussle with eye surgeon FrancoMercieca who complained that he had to cancel morning operations at Mater Dei Hospital because his priority pass had been revoked by the company.

A month after Mr Mercieca had made his complaint public, Gozo Channel issued a rebuttal, complaining that "contrary to the spirit of the privilege granted, some pass holders, among them Mr Mercieca, would use their pass to jump the queue on the return journey, when no reason for priority existed."

They also said he had failed to apply for a priority pass permit. He rebutted the claims and published an application letter to prove that he did in fact apply.

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