Gonzi has assumed responsibility in oil procurement case - Muscat
Gonzi has assumed responsibility in oil procurement case, Muscat says. Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Labour leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that the prime minister, in endorsing Austin Gatt’s version of his meeting with oil trader George Farrugia, had become become directly responsible for this case.
Dr Muscat was referring to Lawrence Gonzi's comments yesterday that he stood by a declaration made by Dr Gatt that he never discussed oil tenders with Mr Farrugia - the person granted a presidential pardon to reveal information on the alleged illegal kickbacks.
Speaking at a press conference in Rabat, Dr Muscat said that Dr Gatt had given the impression that he only met Mr Farrugia in run-of-the-mill constituency meetings, but the e-mails published by the Sunday Times indicated otherwise.
He could understand that Dr Gonzi would give Dr Gatt the benefit of the doubt after so many years of friendship, but by going a step further and standing by his version, the prime minister was making himself directly responsible, Dr Muscat said.
Dr Muscat said the yardstick of whether the granting of the pardon was a good decision or not would be based on the testimony in court and on whether the police needed this information to strengthen their cases in court.
In his reaction to The Sunday Times story, Dr Gatt had reiterated that when he met Mr Farrugia he had never discussed the business oil procurement.
A spokesman said: "The minister repeats once again that his denial is categorical and if anyone has even a shred of proof that he discussed Enemalta oil tenders with anyone – let alone George Farrugia – then that proof should be immediately given to the Commissioner of Police.”
The spokesman said that Dr Gatt had also met Mr Farrugia – in the presence of a number of his partners and ministry officials – regarding a storage project they were developing and which the ministry was involved in from a maritime point of view."
The spokesman said the e-mails did not imply anything contrary to what the minister said, and none of them even remotely referred to Enemalta oil tenders. In fact, one of them did not even refer to the minister at all and ‘A.G.’ could be anyone. Another e-mail referred to Mediterranean Oil Bunkering Corporation storage facilities in which George Farrugia was active as well, and the third one merely stated that Tancred Tabone, then chairman of Enemalta, would be meeting the minister, which he did regularly.
Dr Muscat made this morning's comments at the Wignacourt Museum where he reiterated his party’s position on culture.
He said that culture would not be the Cinderella of a new government, more so since the coming five years would see the 50th anniversary of Independence, Valletta as European Cultural Capital, and Malta's presidency of the EU.
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Joe M Borg
Feb 12th, 18:53
Eddie Privitera I like your comment about the 'quicksand', and the more you wriggle, the deeper you go down. Please, find time to explain this to Joseph Muscat, because since Anglu accused him of serious facts, Joseph has been 'wriggling' around the questions that are being posed at him. He admitted that Anglu and Catherine are HURT, but WHO hurt them; THAT IS THE QUESTION? Wriggle some more J
Ray Buhagiar
Feb 12th, 17:59
Anyone could bluff with foreigners by saying that they know the minister. Even at work I meet people who threaten that they report directly to the Minister.
Is there evidence that a minister endorsed such emails or meetings?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 19:01
Austin Gatt has already categorically denied that the meeting suggested in the email took place nor any other similar meeting. Those who raise the accusation have the responsibility to prove their allegation.
carmel cassar
Feb 12th, 15:14
I came to a conlcusion that AG will be looking forward for PLto win the election, because with PL in government he has the only chance to be found innocent. With the PN in power he may be found innocent by the courts but the people, still doubt of government interferance.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Feb 12th, 14:33
Yesterday’s TVM press conference, where Joseph Muscat practically dodged and avoided all the questions asked by the journalists present, show how he is just a media-man!
What surprises me most is the fact as how can such respectable journalists just sit and stand idly by without muttering one single word of interjection when hearing such hogwash!
JC.
Joe Muscat
Feb 12th, 16:17
The only hogwash I am hearing is yours....which is always the case since you only look at things in one colour
Joe M Borg
Feb 12th, 17:27
Jo Muscat Did YOU take off your red glasses before you wrote. It is true that Joseph, the champion of transparency, who at the start of this campaign told us to ask WHAT WE wanted, and he will answer, IS STILL RUNNING AWAY! We are STILL waiting his answers about: Anglu's accusations; his lie that he is on good terms with Anglu; Zarbs 'pushups'; Abela's new revelations. His answersare lacking!
Victor Vella
Feb 12th, 13:23
Gonzi has assumed responsibility in oil procurement case - Muscat. And you Dr Muscat when the people give you the power do everything in your stead to let the truth comes to surface and the perpetrators of the people will be condemned tom their offenses. These five years our society deteriorated to become governed by oligarchies of evil.
Joe M Borg
Feb 12th, 17:30
Don't bet on it, Victor! Between words and fact.... What has Joseph done about Anglu's claims? About Zarb? About T Abela? We know what HE DID with the ousted PN Sliema mayor, the ousted police officer. He applauded them. How can one trust Joseph? In the case of Libja, he praised the revolution AFTER their victory. He had blamed PN for siding with the rebels TOO EARLY. And Cyprus, Iceland
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 12:58
Most people have enough intelligence to understand that a Gonzi declaration (that on evidence available so far, he believes Austin Gatt's insistence that he did not attend the alleged meeting), does not mean that Gonzi is assuming responsibility for a meeting that did not take place at all. They use the brains that God gave them to draw their own conclusions without "help" from Joseph Muscat.
Brian Gatt
Feb 12th, 15:02
Dear Dr Saliba (Pn Lackey) Most people Do have Brains unlike what you and your party thinks, and it is because they DO have Brains that they can reach their own conclusions on the matter. They do not need Dr Muscat nor your help to tell them what they should think, with the e-mails that got publicated today you only need little imagination to reach a conclusion on what really happened.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 12th, 15:20
Oh I see. So clear evidence in black and white that a meeting did take place and an admission by Gatt that it did, to you means no meeting took place. But then you believe a doctored recording which was obtained by illegal, unethical and immoral means. Strange reasoning indeed.
David Bezzina
Feb 12th, 12:43
Remember what former PN general secretary Frank Portelli said about this oil procurement scandal : 'This is only the tip of the iceberg'.
Any other comment is really not necessary.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Feb 12th, 12:31
Yesterday’s TVM press conference, where Joseph Muscat practically dodged and avoided all the questions asked by the journalists present, show how he is just a media-man!
What surprises me most is the fact as how can such respectable journalists just sit and stand idly by without muttering one single word of interjection when hearing such hogwash!
JC.
P Micallef
Feb 12th, 12:25
That is why we need the Whistleblower's Act for people to come forward with evidence without running the risk of being victimized. It will only be then that people who have stories to tell will go to the Commissioner of Police with any evidence they might have.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 12th, 15:23
Apart from that, it takes out of the hands of the PM the chance to negotiate with a criminal who wants a pardon.If a minister is involved, a PM should not have intervened as he may have told the accused that if he mentions a minister in evidence, the PM will withdraw the pardon. I am only suggesting that this could happen.
Joe M Borg
Feb 12th, 17:33
P Micallef. Yes, PL want the whistleblower act, ONLY IF IT's AGAINST PN! When Anglu acted as a whistleblower, THEY DID NOTHING. Anglu warned us about some facts with PL, and about his lack of trust in JM. And Zarb's 'pushups'? What did PL do? NOTHING! So much for the whistleblower act!
S. Attard
Feb 12th, 12:11
I recall that Gonzi had also assumed responsibility on the building of the new recycling plant at Marsaskala. I recall how the process that followed was manipulated and that various sections of the Development Planning Act were breached. The ex MEPA Auditor's investigation report confirms this. More than 27 million Euros were spent on this plant. I am sure that we will hear more on this.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 12th, 12:06
Of course he did Cyprus Joe - this differentiates Gonzi from coward politicians like yourself.
You see Gonzi chose Gatt so he stands by his chosen person until investigations are concluded. On the other hand cowards propose a massive dilapidating investment and say that if it fails they will run away - as you did during the EU membership referendum.
Ph. Cauchi
Feb 12th, 11:28
Hekk tixtieq temmen siehbi.
D. Ellul
Feb 12th, 11:23
M'hemm ebda email minn ghand Austin. Kulhadd jista jghid li jrid....imma Joseph nesgha l-emails tieghu li nkixffu jiftiehem mal-gurnalista ta l-RTK Sabrina Agius
David Bezzina
Feb 12th, 12:37
Imma x'ghandu x'jaqsam !!!
Hawn qed nitkellmu fuq miljuni ta' Ewros ta' korruzzjoni fejn hemm ministru indikat fl-emails u mhux telefonata ma' gurnalista.
M Fava
Feb 12th, 13:33
LOL biex lanqas il-PN mhu qed isemmu dawn l-emails ta' sena ilu itik x'tifhem li l-kontenut kien manipulat mill-media u li huma irrelevanti.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 12th, 15:25
Ellul, umbaghad hadtu gost tkissruha lil Ms Agius. Daqshekk inthom nisranija - tinqdew bill bloggers biex tkissru il-hajja personali ta' bniedma ghax hi Laburista. Ahjar ma issemiehx dan l-episodju ikrah ghax xejn ma jaghmlilkom gieh.
Joe M Borg
Feb 12th, 17:37
Il-fatt li Austin kellu laqgha mhux bilfors ifisser li hu ha xi flus. Hallu l-pulizija tara dak, u jekk haqqu, ha jiehu li zergha. Imma tghagglux twaddbu t-tajn, kif jafu jghamlu l-PL. Tiftakru qabel l-1996, kemm twaddab tajn kontra l-PN? Meta telghu fil-gvern il-PL lil HADD ma ressqu l-qorti. U kemm qalulna li jekk jitla' l-PN fl-2008 is-sahha ma tibqax b'xejn. Illum nafu min kapaci jigdeb
Francis Attard
Feb 12th, 11:15
First of all, considering the seriousness of the issue in question, it isn't the job for a spokesman to speak on behalf of Dr Austin Gatt.
Secondly, until this spokesman, Dr Austin Gatt or The Prime Minister tell us who this "anyone" A.G. (Aust.) is, obviously together with all his particulars, we have every reason to believe that he is none other than Austin Gatt himself.
Eve Axiaq
Feb 12th, 11:14
PN aplogists jivvintaw skuzi banali fuq din il-kwistjoni taz-zejt u Aust. Sahansitra qed jiktbu li George Farrugia kiteb hekk biex jimpressjona! B'dan il-mod iridu jikkonvincu lil floating voters? Nahseb li Aust ghandu jispjega x'intqal bejniethom jekk irid jidher kredibbli mal- votanti la m'ghandux x'jahbi.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 12th, 11:10
Joseph Aquilina: Do you think whoever is AG would be so stupid ? If Austin Gatt is not the "minister" mentioned in the emails, WHO COULD BE THE MINISTER INVOLVED ? Have you any idea who " AUST" could be ? Perhaps a reference to "Australia" or "Austria " ??
When a person finds himself in quick-sand, the more he wriggles to get out, the more he sinks !
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 12:55
L-email ma humiex indikattivi ghal xiex propja qed jirreferu. Issa jekk mohhok biex tinkonkludi bhas-soltu dak li trid tisma affari tieghek. Jien nistenna r-rizultat tal-pulizija.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Feb 12th, 11:05
We all know that we are in a fierce election campaign, but for Joseph Muscat to come out with such statements must be condemned as being nothing more than mud-slinging at its best!
If Joseph Muscat believes his own ‘inventions’ then he should take the responsible path and divulge all the information he has in his possession to the Commissioner of Police; or otherwise close his mouth!
JC.
David Bezzina
Feb 12th, 12:38
Jigifieri ma hemmx korruzzjoni Sur Cauchi ?
Brian Gatt
Feb 12th, 15:06
@ Joseph Cauchi Senior.....qed inigizkom Guz ux qed inigizkom inghid!! PN Lackey trying to close the mouth of Dr Muscat....what about the freedom of speech you all used to brag about that you brought in.....Hallina Guz
Dolores Galea
Feb 12th, 11:04
Muscat ma jafx x'qed jghid!
M Fava
Feb 12th, 13:35
Gonzi biss jaf x'inhu jghid!
Ethelbert Schembri
Feb 12th, 11:04
Two terms that GonziPN clique has thrown out of the window are RESPONSIBILITY & ACCOUNTABILITY .. With GonziPN way of governing those two terms can never be used as they do what they please and pretend that NO ONE have the right to question them and if someone ask them they use the victimisation card and start blathering about democracy being attacked.. Well, you are undermining democracy Dr Gonzi
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 12th, 10:44
Once again Joseph Muscat shows us he does not have the qualities of a leader. Even a five year old child reading those emails would realize they are obe sided and there is no email from Austin Gatt.
J Camilleri
Feb 12th, 10:59
Kompli emmen dak li trid habib.
Joseph Mifsud
Feb 12th, 11:05
Sur Aquilina...
Int tahseb li instabu l-emails kollha? U fuq kollox billi ma hemmx email minand A.G. ma jfissirx li ma uzax mobile, telephone, uza terzi..hammiema jekk trid..biex jaghti r-risposta tieghu. Min kif hemm fl-emails jidher car li meeting sar...fuq xiex tkellmu ma nafux imma la em Trafigura fin-nofs ma nimmaginax li tkellmu fuq it-temp. Issa jghodd x'ha jghid Farrugia fil-qorti
K.G. Vella
Feb 12th, 11:15
They are not one-sided - they are correspondence between two sides. They are not addressed to the minister but they speak about the minister.
Franco Abela
Feb 12th, 11:26
@ Joseph Aquilina
Inti qrajt xi mkien li Joseph Muscat qed iwahhal f Austin Gatt? Hu qed jghid li jekk Austin Gatt jinstab li kellu x jaqsam, Gonzi dahal responsabbli ghalih.
Li A.G zgur tfisser Austin Gatt ma nistghux nghiduha... pero wisq aktar ma nistghux nghidu li zgur ma tfissirx Austin Gatt.
R. Lewis
Feb 12th, 11:34
@Joseph Aquilina. Even a three year old child need not send an email confirming that he had a meeting with the Chairman. Send the email to whom and for what? For sure we don't have a 5 year old brain and we think otherwise, we don't know about yours. All we want is that who ever is involved and stole our money will be brought to justice. Mela min jiffoxna fil miljuni u min jara kif igahgaha.
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 12th, 12:37
Once again my dear Joseph Aquilina PN, I Joseph Aquilina LP has to reply to your comment about leadership qualities. Joseph Muscat in his 4 years as LP leader was able to convince a good number of influential ex PN to join him because they were fed up with the way by which Laurence Gonzi was leading the PN. Infact in your party there was a haemorrhage of disillusioned party people crossing over.
M Fava
Feb 12th, 13:36
As if there aren't other means of communication Sur Aquilina!
N. Pace Debono
Feb 12th, 10:41
Since JMuscat is assuming that the PM has assumed responsibility for Minister Gatts statement saying he never spoke to G.Farrugia re oil tenders. Is JM assuming he has? So what i mean is if Minister Gatt proves he is not involved with the above mentioned then what happens?
The way i understood JMs comment is that if found responsible then the PM should resign. So if not then JM should resign?
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 12th, 11:06
Very good point!
Matthew Grima
Feb 12th, 11:19
It only means that Dr. Gonzi should not have said that he believes Austin until he is proven guilty or not, as he now has to stand by what he said. Dr. Gonzi risked a lot by that statement.
Franco Abela
Feb 12th, 11:27
Jekk Joseph Muscat jghid li zgur Austin Gatt ghandu x jaqsam... iwa... jekk ma jinstabx hati jkolli jirrezenja. Pero mhux qed jinghad hekk.
Joe Muscat
Feb 12th, 14:06
Hozz fl-ilma...Gonzi u xi ftit minn ta madwaru kellhom ghalfejn jirrezenjaw bosta drabi...ima ghawnhekk hadd ma jerfa responsabbilta....
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 09:59
Darba joseph muscat qed isemmi l-indipendenza u jrid ifakkar il-50 sena imissu jaccetta li l-jum nazzjonali ghandu jkun wiehed il-21 ta' settembru. Wara kollox minn dan il-jum stajna naghmlu li irridu f'pajjizna. Integration, inkeccu lill-inglizi insiru repubblika u kull decizjoni ohra li ridna. F'din il-gurnata stajna naghmlu li irridu.
Joseph Pavia
Feb 12th, 10:29
Intergration le Twanny! Ghax ic-cahda ta' l-intergration kienet li xprunat l-ghajta ghal l-Indipendenza.
R. Lewis
Feb 12th, 10:33
@Twanny Borg. Qieghed tghid li il lum nistaw nghamlu li irridu f'pajjizna, mela insejt li dawn l-kumpaniji li sejjer insemmilek huma kollha mmexxejjin mill barranin, Drydocks/Palumbo, Lotto/Maltco, Transport/Arriva, Banek/HSBC,etc, Airport, Air Malta, u ohrajn. Taf li ma fadal xejn taghna u tigi tghid li ahna independenti ?
carmel vella
Feb 12th, 10:34
Tibqax tghid minn dawn il-hmerijiet Sur Borg. Tajjeb illi tkun taf li il-mixja tal-poplu Malti lejn il-HELSIEN bdiet hafna aktar kmieni meta fis-SETTE GIUGNO xi maltin qalbieni carcru demmhom ghalina. Minn wara dan l-avveniment, il-Maltin akkwistaw l-ewwel kostituzzjoni. L-Indipendenza u Ir-repubblika kienu passi importanti fil-mixja taghna lejn il-Helsien. Tippruvax anke hawnhekk tara blu biss!
Maria Xuereb
Feb 12th, 10:37
X'indipendeza kienet? Ara kontx tmur St. Andrew's, jew kull fejn zammew taht idejhom l-Inglizi. Insejt jew kont ghadek ma twelidx. Ara l-artijiet kollha strategigi ta' Malta f'idejn min kienu? L-Ingliz baqghu jikkontrollaw kollox huma sa kemm gie s-salvatur ta' Malta u fil-31 ta' Marzu keccihom il-barra u dakinhar gejna vera ndipendenti ghax ma kellna lil hadd jikkmanda l-icken rokna f'Malta.
Leonard Brincat
Feb 12th, 10:38
Safejn niftakar jien wara l indipendenza li kienet it tieni pass fi triq it tajba xorta nofs Malta kienet ghada ta l inglizi. Nahseb li is sette Gunju ikun ahjar bhala jum nazzjonali. Biex forsi naqtaw il partiggjanizmu
Herman Mercieca
Feb 12th, 10:40
habib aqra li storja sewwa.Xorta ma stajnix namlu li ridu jew nithlu fejn iridu ezempju il-marsa ta mastajnix nithlu kalaxlokk lanqas pemprok u hafna postijiet mil l'isbah ma stajnix imorru habib. xorta pqajna inhalsu it-taxxa li regina u kieku l'inglisi dahlu fxi gweera kien kollna nargaw nkunu bazi
Ph. Cauchi
Feb 12th, 10:49
Twanny jekk ma jimpurtax ejja nitkellmu fuq dan l-iskandlu taz-zejt please jew ma jaqbilekx hallik mil festa nazzjonali issa.
Nahseb ma tantx trid tisma fuqha veru?
Rose Grima
Feb 12th, 11:05
Maria Xuereb
How blinkered you are!! If it hadn't been for Independence obtained by PN govt, your darling Dom Mintoff wouldn't have been able to ask foe Malta to become a republic. Learn to appreciate what had been done for our country by all Maltese govts...believe me, though I am a PN follower, I still am able to see the good that a labour govt between 1971 -1977 did for the country.
Eddy Privitera
Feb 12th, 11:13
twanny borg: Injsemmilek forsi l-aktar haga importanti: ILLUM LANQAS IL-BUDGET M'GHNANDA DRITT LI JAGHMLU L-GVERN MALTI WAHDU. IRID IL-PERMESS TAL-UE !
Aristide Galea
Feb 12th, 11:17
Sur Borg , ma nixtieqx li naqbad jew inqabbad xi polemika , imma jekk jgħoġbok taqbad u taqra ftit il-kostituzzjoni ta' l-indipendenza tkun taf kemm verament konna indipendenti . Hu kollu veru , li fuq il-karta konna nidrhu li aħna indipendenti , izda jekk tara it-trattat ta' difiza li kellna mal-gvern Ingliz tinduna kemm kollox baqa' kif kien qabel u ma kienet indipendenza xejn .
Joseph Aquilina
Feb 12th, 11:21
R lewis, kemm ghadek lura fejn jithol il kuncet semplici ta privatizazjoni u ghaliex dan ta gid ghal pakijzna.
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 12th, 11:27
Sur Twanny Borg, tant stajna naghmlu li riidu li t-telecommunications, id-difiza, il-banek, l-airport, certi areas bhal St. Andrews, Kalafrana, Sta Maria Estate, etc kienu d'idejn il-barranin, l-aktar l-Inglizi.
R. Lewis
Feb 12th, 12:17
@Joseph Aquilina. Jien nahseb int ghadek lura u tirraguna b'mohh ta xi hadd ta hames snin bhal ma ghidt izjed il fuq. Jien nemmen fil privattizzazzjoni imma skond kif. Tiskanta kif il kumpaniji li gew moghtija kienu jaghmlu telf u imbaghad Alla jbierek bdew jaghmlu il profit.Mela ippriv kollox, gibna jghidu xi 2 biljuni u ghandna 6 biljuni dejn. Spjegahhali jekk joghogbok ghax ma nistax nifhiema.
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 12:52
Kummenti banali il-verita' tibqgha li fahhar muscat illum stess li bl-indipendenza stajna naghmlu li irridu kemm qabel u kemm wara. Dak il-jum nazzjonali.
twanny borg
Feb 12th, 13:29
@joseph grech attard - jekk kien hemm affarijiet li hallejna l-inglizi jikkontrollaw kien ittort ta' malta mhux tal-inglizi jew ghax ma stajnix nehduhom. bl-INDIPENDENZA biss stajna nohduhom lura. SEMPLICI.
muscat qed jirrikonnoxxi l-indipendenza tridu u ma tridux tibghelu kollox bhal ma qed tibelaw xi ex suppost nazzjonalisti bi skop specifiku taghhom. u laburisti genwini isafru jibqghu.
M Fava
Feb 12th, 13:39
L-indipendenza ma gabitx l-integration. L-integration qas biss riduha n-nazzjonalisti. Fejn kont qed tghix dawn l-ahhar 50 sena?
Joseph Grech Attard
Feb 12th, 15:56
Sur Twanny Borg, l-affarijiet li semmejt jien baqghu f'idejn il-barranin WARA l-indipendenza. Gew f'idejn il-maltin wara l-1971 bis-sahha tal-Lejber u tar-repubblika! Jekk hu tort ta' Malta allura tort ta' min kien imexxi dak oz-zmien i.e. il-PN!
George Cutajar
Feb 12th, 09:56
He said that culture would not be the Cinderella of a new government, more so since the coming five years would see the 50th anniversary of Independence, Valletta as European Cultural Capital, and Malta's presidency of the EU.
That is all JM really cares about.
G.A. Scicluna
Feb 12th, 10:35
why not??
Mehdi Klein
Feb 12th, 10:41
No, that is one of the things JM cares about and there are other other things that he cares about for this country...for you and your family
Massimo Gatt
Feb 12th, 10:42
It is a very big change to impress! It is a very important opportunity which we must exploit!
Eddy Privitera
Feb 12th, 11:14
george Cutajar: And what really concerns Lawrence Gonzi is to cut ribbons on the eve of an election !
Joe Muscat
Feb 12th, 14:04
Nice way of by-passing the Oil Scandal issue george.....Nothing to say about that......? Where are you PN bloggers now...? Speak about the Oil commission issue or are you going to come out with the excuse that it's still under investigation......?
Joe Camilleri
Feb 12th, 14:48
@Eddy Privitera
cut ribbons of projects that were done by the PN and surley not by the lejber party !! i bet the projects you are criticising are the ones you go to on a sunday afternoon with your family!!
Please choose the reason of your report below: