Claudio Grech resigns from Mita
Claudio Grech
The chairman of Mita, Claudio Grech, announced his resignation today.
"Over the last months, I was finding it increasingly difficult to balance the time required to lead the agency and that necessary to effectively manage the operations of my private business," Mr Grech told IT minister Austin Gatt.
"At the same time, as you are aware, over the last months I was the target of an unwarranted smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the agency's and my reputation and integrity. This campaign held me back from taking my decision earlier and now that the Commissioner for Data Protection and Information has concluded his investigations, I feel that the truth is known and the agency has emerged stronger than ever. Hence, I felt this is the right time to move on."
Mr Grech had invited the Data Commissioner to investigate after the Opposition raised questions on whether he had access to people's data, saying that conflicted with his political role within the PN. Mita always insisted that Mr Grech did not have access to people's data.
MINISTER'S REPLY
Dr Gatt replied that he was accepting the resignation with deep regret.
"I appreciate your reasons for resigning which are an unfortunate consequence of the policy to engage in these positions persons from the private sector on a part-time basis. What is theoretically a part-time position very quickly becomes a heavy commitment which one does not always manage to balance with their private affairs," Dr Gatt said.
"Having said that, myself, the government and the country owe you a debt of gratitude for your service over the past 14 years. You have been a key player and an inspiring leader in the government's digital program and Malta will continue to benefit from your achievements for many years to come."
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Joe Fenech
Dec 8th 2011, 00:22
See Grec'sh CV and you'll notice that right after his Bachelors degree he was giving a top post which abroad would only be given to someone with a mega successive track record not a beginner.
As Norman Lowell says : "nies bla certifikati, nies telghin mill-hama tal-partit!" SPOT ON, NORMAN !
Joe Fenech
Dec 7th 2011, 13:15
"At the same time, as you are aware, over the last months I was the target of an unwarranted smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the agency's and my reputation and integrity. "
Claudio, what you're saying makes sense only in a country like Zimbabwe not in democracies!
Joe Fenech
Dec 7th 2011, 12:50
So someone is allowed to be at the top rank of a government agency and at the same time run a private business. Only in Malta and Africa (literally...see what happens in Zimbabwe and in those kind of places ! )
AUSTIN : RESIGN for heaven's sake !
Charles Sammut
Dec 7th 2011, 14:46
your dream is every Malteser's dream including of course mine...but all we can do is dream the impossible dream...do you think austin is going to throw away the goose which lays him soooo many golden eggs at our expense?!?!?
...and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.........
Joe Fenech
Dec 8th 2011, 00:19
Yes, Mr Sammut. It is sheer insanity same as what one comes across in Africa !
Dominic Fisher
Dec 6th 2011, 22:59
This sorry chapter is a nail in Malta's political freedom. Democracy is the loser here. To question a person's integrity at work due to their political persuasion is beyond the pale.
E. Azzopardi
Dec 6th 2011, 13:44
You cannot be the head of such an important government agency and have other work. to attend to. The fault is that of the Minister who appointed him. And don't we know that once one accepts such a position you are open to all criticism, especially from politicians. How much more time are we going to lose on such theatrics in this country?
Joe Fenech
Dec 7th 2011, 13:13
What you're saying is obvious to civilised people.
Noel Cuschieri
Dec 6th 2011, 08:11
Hemm bzonn li nifmu darba ghal dejjem li politikanti, u leaders bhal Claudio huma nies tad-demm u l-laham, u bhal kullhadd ghandom "self-interest". Huwa dan l-interess li imexxihom il-quddiem u jtihom l-inizjattiva ghall-bidla. U personalment, taqbel jew ma taqbielx mal-agenda politika, tajjeb li jkollok mexxejja li lesti jihdu r-riskji tal-bidla. Tajjeb li jkollok nies li jiddiskutu b'mod prattiku u posittiv.
Imma fuq u qabel kollox kull wiehed u wahda minna ghandu l-potenzjal li jibdel u jkabbar lil Malta. Kulhadd ghandu mohh u mbilli noqghodu ninhlew fil-hajja personali tal-ftit, ahjar niffukaw fuq misuri li jmexxu l-quddiem.
Hemm bzonn li nieqfu nippuntaw subghajna, bhalli kieku ghax xi hadd isir politikant, f'daqqa wahda sar Gandhi. Hemm bzonn nihdu responsabilta tal-azjonijiet taghna ghax wisq facli nwahlu f'haddiehor.
Il-kumplament tal-gurnata t-tajba.
David Magro
Dec 6th 2011, 05:11
Another one who jumped overboard. The drums of defeat are very near! Miskien GonziPN...dalwaqt nistiednu lil Freddie Portelli sabiex jkantalu "Wahdi wahdi....iva wahdi" !
John Attard
Dec 6th 2011, 01:16
Well 12 months time was going to be removed when a Labour government will be in power. He made persons that sides with his own party suffer as well to m ove forward or and find job.
Robert Mifsud
Dec 5th 2011, 22:51
There is always room for improvement and Claudio Grech (and Matthew Gatt as CEO) gave a good boost to have a better IT infrastructure for the government. I hope that whoever is going to be chairman he keeps the momentum.
I am really impressed with the number of people that always complain without knowing the real facts. They are just trying to be a "smart", sharing their "professional" option without being able to define their complain.
You cannot complain if you cannot define your complaint.
mark borg
Dec 5th 2011, 19:38
This Mr.Grech must be, what 35year old ...36 yrs old ? no more than 37 yrs for sure and he has been occupying top posts within government entities for so many years now...which must have been straight from university ......my query is, are all newly grads or 2/3 yrs post graduation given these opportunities ? so finally I have to ask myself a stupid question is this Claudio Grech or his family by any chance ....a NATIONALIST ?
Charles Massa
Dec 5th 2011, 19:23
I cried when i read this article!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 22:11
Yes I think you cried crocodile tears.
Rennie Mercieca
Dec 5th 2011, 19:15
@H Psaila Id-differenza bejn il-PL u l-PN hija li fil-PL hemm sinkronija shiha bejn il-Mexxej u id-
Deputat Mexxejja u l-grupp parlamentari kollu. Staqsi lil JPO, lil Franco Debono, u lil Jesmond Mugliette halli tar minn qed jaghmel ghajb lil dan il-pajjiz. It-Tim tal-PL hu maghmul minn ideat godda mhallta ma' esperjenza siewja fil-qasm politiku.
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 22:11
Imma taf ghaliex, ghaliex il-PN huwa demokratiku u kull deputat jghid dak l'ihoss mentri il-membri parlamentari taghkom ma jistawx jitkellmu kif gralha Ms Coleiro Preca meta bdiet tghid kontra id-divorzju u spiccat biex giet mghedda. It-tim tal-PL kull ma ghandu huwa illuzjonijiet u holm biss hu m'ghandu xejn konkret x'jipprezenta lill-poplu Malti.
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 22:18
Ideat godda, hmmmmmmm interessanti, bhal per ezempju Karmenu Vella. Alex Scibberas Trigona, Leo Brincat? u hafna ohra li regaw sabu postom fil PL wara li kienu twarbu minn Alfred Sant.
Dennis Zammit
Dec 6th 2011, 12:06
Idejat godda . . . u inkompli fejn hall Victor Vella
Debono Grech fuq it-trasport ?????
Toni Abela ????
Anglu Farrugia ????
Dawn huma il-godda?
Philip Hili
Dec 7th 2011, 13:15
@ Rennie Mercieca
"It-Tim tal-PL hu maghmul minn ideat godda mhallta ma' esperjenza siewja fil-qasm politiku."
Taf x'insejt issemmi fil-kompozizzjoni tat-tim tal-PL?
Li t-tim tal-PL qieghed jigi meghjun minn deputati zleali tal-Partit Nazzjonalista kul meta jkun jaqbel lil dawn.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 5th 2011, 18:55
Mr Claudio Grech had to make a choice - either serve the country or serve the Party. He obviously decided that his loyalty to the Party was greater than his loyalty to the country.
Mrs Joe Felice-Pace
Dec 5th 2011, 19:09
Typical miopic socialist mentaliy!
Joe Felice Pace
Colin Camilleri
Dec 5th 2011, 19:31
well said Mr. Laviera. I would add, serve his personal interests (private business and PN) or serve the country where all maltese citizens, whether PL, PN or neutral could have benefited. But may be it was too huge a task to serve all maltese citizens alike, contrary to what some are saying in this bloggs. If it wasn't too much of a handful for him, he would have stayed.
Andy Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 19:37
".....either serve the country or serve the Party."
Interesting and intriguing! By my reckoning, we are really in a desperate situation as I don't think that there are many who are willing to put country before political party. Even then, don't all parties believe that they working for the good of the country? What says you, Laiviera?
Andy Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 19:41
Errata corrige;
"What say you..?"
Stephen Mangion
Dec 5th 2011, 20:34
Well said
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2011, 22:20
Oh how you wish that he PL had people like Claudio dear Victor.With pewople like him in the party it is one hell of a headache for the PL believe me.
Andy Farrugia
Dec 5th 2011, 23:08
errata...
that they ARE working ....
Kleaven Maniscalco
Dec 5th 2011, 18:48
This is a pity. Mita just lost a great mind. Claudio always impresses me when he talks. He is a great man and an asset.
Mario J Spiteri
Dec 5th 2011, 18:17
Oh what a pitty, because he is in pn mechanism it is unfortune that he resigns. Even YOU Dr.Gatt, you should resign now!
G Mangion
Dec 5th 2011, 18:55
Mario J Spiteri:resign now!
Only In Your DREAMS !!!
G. Mangion.
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 22:14
@ Mario Spiteri - That is the only word you Labour people know - Resign. Whoever is in high authority and does not have red eyes should resign as you state. Well JM must resign too because he doesn't have anything in return to give the country.
Antoine Attard
Dec 5th 2011, 17:53
The fruit of character assassination. PL always target people that delivered. NSO Gordon Cordina comes to mind. Can this country afford to lose these people?
Anthony Paris
Dec 5th 2011, 18:30
No we cannot afford to lose these people. And we do not lose them. They always return as consultants.
Mr Mark Bartolo
Dec 5th 2011, 17:19
I read this news with great regret. Claudio Grech is a visionary and a leader.
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 5th 2011, 17:15
Typical lanzit tal-Lejber. I dont know Claudio but the results achieved over the years were fantastic to say the least. To me this comes as a result of 'democracy gone wrong' where the evil forces focus on one particular person until his resignation. We all remember here the case of the old 'bus-ticketing machines' where the opposition, then under Alfred Sant mounted a whole months-long saga on the contract and smeard the minister - Michael Frendo, the company that won the contract, and people in his then ministry, only to be found innocent during the administration of guess who? Yes Alfred Sant himself. When the press hounds one person, a resignation is like blood shed that gives satisfaction to the wolves and leaves the country much poorer, under the disguise of freedom of press. A classic case of democracy gone wrong.
Amazing how Joseph is 'succeeding' in imitating all the wrong things done by his mentor Mintoff and his predecessor Alfred Sant.
John Said
Dec 5th 2011, 17:11
This is turning out to be similar to a chess game, killing all the Paws in order to try and get to the king. It’s a pity that valuable people are being put under such a political pressure that at one point they ask themselves if it’s worth the hassle to carry on with their work/service to the country. Mr.Grech it’s a wise decision to look after you own business, as unfortunately very few will be grateful for the service you gave to the country. If they are happy to play with fire, let them burn themselves, the only problem is that even those that are not so stupid will have to suffer!
Lawrence Fenech
Dec 5th 2011, 16:58
U ir-risenja ta' Austin Gatt fuq affarijiet aktar importanti ma gietx accettata. X'diffferenza!
R. Gauci
Dec 6th 2011, 00:24
.... It-taparsi rizenja ridt tghid.
Neil Dent
Dec 5th 2011, 16:58
So many people who obviously know better jahasra.
Mr. Grech has been proven to be a man of outright integrity, having been forced to prove such after a shameful mud-slinging campaign was waged against him, but some know-it-alls just can't stomach the fact. Instead they turn his resignation, tendered for very sound reasons as per this article, into some kind of admission, or just another part of the grand PN conspiracy. A conspiracy that exists only in some narrow, very limited minds.
N. Bonello
Dec 5th 2011, 16:54
QUOTE - 'increasingly difficult to balance the time required to lead the agency and that necessary to effectively manage the operations of my private business," Mr Grech told IT minister Austin Gatt'.
Was anyone aware that he was balancing MITA/his business on the side ?
This seems to be all to common in Malta - no matter nothing ever gets done properly.
I work for an employer full-time. If I work for some other entity in my own time (including my own) I need permission in writing. Again I ask was Grechs position clear to everyone (in writing).
Mrs Joe Felice-Pace
Dec 5th 2011, 19:07
There have been and there still are so many people, many of them successful businessman or in whatever line of activity they pursue, who have added to their private work the onus of taking responsibility for government, i.e., national ventures. The nation owes these people its gratitude. I would rather have a businessman running certain government enterprises that an often bureaucratic civil servant tied to an obsolete way of doing things.
Joe Felice Pace
Antoine Zammit
Dec 5th 2011, 16:50
Awguri Sur Grech,
Wish you all the best for your upcoming endeavours.
An end, is always a new beginning.
Mario Grima
Dec 5th 2011, 16:29
.......the government and the country owe you a debt of gratitude for your service over the past 14 years"
Reading this bit has made me cry!!!!
A Dimech
Dec 5th 2011, 15:59
is the ship sinking? every one seems to be leaving!!
water, water !
Pat Hobson
Dec 5th 2011, 17:09
Nope, he's preparing for the coming elections. Haven't you forgotten what was the case against him a few days ago? He's part of the PN machine for elections.
John Caligari
Dec 5th 2011, 15:54
We'll see him in a better position in the Govm., you wait and see.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 5th 2011, 15:52
Austin ♥ Claudio - Claudio ♥ Austin
Anthony Paris
Dec 5th 2011, 15:43
Hopefully Mr. Grech's business is not, or will not be, booming with government contracts.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 5th 2011, 17:26
Are you suggesting his company be excluded from any tendering process?
mario gellel
Dec 5th 2011, 15:42
U IL-HUTA MINN RASHA TINTENN, HUX ????
H. Psaila
Dec 5th 2011, 18:22
Ezatt ghaliex il-Laburisti minn ghalihom li ghandhom Kapo stilla u zewg vici-kapi li ma jaghmlu ebda unur lill-partit.
joe vella
Dec 5th 2011, 15:27
cool ! another resignation- surprise is the underlings are resigning one after the other but the big brass stick to their seats
one sometimes wonders what is happening- could the mepa affair have had a bearing?
will mr grech reappear on the scene pretty soon as a 'consultant' to the government or to the PN election campaign?
I wonder !!
George Mifsud
Dec 5th 2011, 15:54
What underlings are you talking about? This is a Chairman. That means he is the guy who sort of heads the Board of Directors in the running of an entity. Definitely not a 'cermen ta bort' as in your books.
E Schembri
Dec 5th 2011, 16:09
If you want the resignation of some of the big boys, I understand, but don't be too happy any resignation just for the sake of it, as in most cases these are a loss of human resources, experience and investment for the goverment and thus for the agencies / departments they work for.
This can only lead to ineffiencies and lack of co-ordination, that will be suffered by the general public.
J. Scicluna
Dec 5th 2011, 16:11
@George Mifsud
"...he is the guy who sort of heads the Board of Directors..."
You got it right.....SORT OF!
John J Borg
Dec 5th 2011, 15:26
thats 2 GRECHs in less than a month!
ALFRED BRIFFA
Dec 5th 2011, 15:09
Hajtek hi tieghek u hadd ma ghandu jindahal x'taghmel biha! Imma, ippermettieli nghidlek li SERRAHT LIL DAWK LI ILHOM BIEX JARAWK BARRA ! Nirringrazzjak tax-xoghol kbir li ghamilt fl-ICT u fl-E -Government. u nawguralek success f'xogholhok.
Raphael E Vassallo
Dec 5th 2011, 15:09
My best wishes Claudio
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