Updated: Oil tenders - Gonzi stands by Austin Gatt's statement
PM visits Merit Precision Tools in Gozo. Video: Matthew Mirabelli
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi reiterated this morning that he stood by Transport Minister Austin Gatt's statement that he never met George Farrugia or anyone to discuss oil or other tenders.
“I accept his statement,” he said adding that his government used the strongest legal tool available to expose corruption – the Presidential pardon. This was done on the advice of the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner.
“This decision clearly shows we are determined to fight corruption, no matter who the person or people concerned are,” he said.
He was replying to journalists' questions during a visit to Merit Precision Tools factory at the Xewkija industrial estate in Gozo.
Later, during the programme Qalb il-Familja, that was aired from Mgarr Dr Gonzi reacted to a statement by Dr Muscat that endorsing Austin Gatt’s version of his meeting with oil trader George Farrugia, he had become become directly responsible for this case.
He said he was surprised by Dr Muscat’s superficiality and that the crucial point was that government used the Presidential pardon to expose corruption.
“At this point we have to give space to the Police Commissioner to investigate without any political pressure.... The head of the Opposition is doing nothing other than putting political pressure when the investigators should he left to do their job serenely,” he said adding that he stood by Dr Gatt’s declaration.
He described the factory as one of the most important ones in manufacturing in Gozo adding that the PN government was committed to ensuring that Gozitan youths were provided with training and education.
Part of the 25,000 jobs that the PN was committed to create over the next five years would be in Gozo, he said adding that over the past five years the ETC made 880 job placements in Gozo.
He said that 264 employers employed 617 people through the EU funded employment aid programme through which half the salary of employees was covered for a year.
When Malta obtained its EU funds covering the years up to 2013, 10 per cent of cohesion funds were dedicated to Gozo.
The same would be done with the funds for 2014 to 2020. Apart from this, 20 per cent of the new funds obtained for the rural and education sector would also be allocated to Gozo, he said.
Turning to the PN electoral programmme, Dr he said the PN government would turn the Xewkija industrial estate into a business park.
New small businesses who employed more than two people would get up to €200,000 in tax exemptions over three years and a business centre in Gozo would facilitate the process of setting up new businesses and expanding existing ones, he said.
Dr Gonzi said that if the PN was trusted to lead the country again, a large amount of the €1.1 billion in EU funds would be invested in young people to ensure they got the best education.
The PN would work to broaden courses at the University of Malta and the Malta College for Arts Science and Technology.
The money would be used to ensure that stipends increased every year in line with the cost of living. While other countries were increasing burdens on young people, 19,000 Maltese students, including mature students over 30, had stipends, the Prime Minister said.
Dr Gonzi said that over the past years the PN government gave 2,000 scholarships and over the next five years a further 3,000 scholarships would be given, he said.
He again stressed the importance of sound finances and said that only a government with sound finances could reduce taxes and attract investment.
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alfred attard
Feb 13th, 06:26
Finanzi fis-sod??? Malta ghandha 5 bijuni dejn. Dawn kollha mal-poplu Malti, allura ghal-pajjizi l-ohra qiesha ma ghandhiex dejn. Ftit ftit flus il-poplu se jkunu kollha investiti fil-gvern u d-dejn dejjem tiela. Se jigri meta il-poplu ma jkollux aktar flus f'idejh. Kieku dan id-dejn qieghed ma xi bank internazzjonali, kif tigi akkredata l-pozzizzjoni ta' Malta rigward finanzi?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 17:35
@ the Greek drama chorus of Andrew Camilleri, m borg (slm) j brincat etc
Please, stop feigning ignorance by asking questions too silly to merit a response. You only ask to sow doubts.
If you have notions worth considering please have the guts to express them boldly so that they can be discussed intelligently. Don't hide behind a feigned ignorance, asking questions begging for enlightenment.
john muscat
Feb 12th, 18:24
As you seem to be more intelligent than others, why don't you enlighten every one as you seem to know all the answers?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 18:49
@ John Muscat
I do not do what you ask, firstly because I do not consider myself more intelligent than all others and secondly, because there is no need to answer cowardly questions that do not genuinely seek information but are only intended to defame by innuendo.
Robert Agius
Feb 12th, 19:29
Most criminals (wise enough), along with the innocent, will plead innocent, Dottore. You must be brainless and totally naive to think that there is nothing fishy about the deal. Proof is hard to come by however; especially when to much power is held by a few. The ideal and responsible solution would be to remove and replace certain people to make sure that justice is served for the public....but..
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 13th, 13:49
@Robert Agius
It is not up to accusers or accused, or supporters, to judge innocence or guilt - that is up to independent courts of law, as is happening in this case. YBiased suppositions and doubts could ever replace that elementary principle of justice. That is why I do not draw premature conclusions and that is why you are not similarly circumspect
Andrew Siad
Feb 12th, 17:32
ma stahax jmur ix xewkija! zona industrjali bil fabriki kolla maluqin!!
Paul Cassar
Feb 12th, 17:31
BAD DAY FOR AUST...........................1. .the pm vists a manufacturing factory meaning that Austin lost his wager
that manufacturing is doomed....................2. every day that passes more questions are raised about the heavy
fuel scandal..........................sinking the pn further down.
Charles Micallef
Feb 12th, 17:08
Updated: Oil tenders - Gonzi stands by Austin Gatt's statement....................would he dare do anything else?
Joseph Portelli
Feb 12th, 18:00
Għamel l-aktar haga importanti li seta jaghmel: ta l-proklama. Jekk jista jamel xi haga aktar minn hekk, uri l-intelligenza enormi li andek u ejdlu jamilha!
john muscat
Feb 12th, 16:47
It is better that the PM says who A.G. or Aust. is so that Austin Gatt clears his name, otherwise all the citizens are suspecting that A.G. is no other than the minister! Surely A.G. is not the Attorney General.
Rocco Camilleri
Feb 12th, 16:19
Nahseb li kulhadd jaqbel l-issa z-zejjed u hemm bzonn daqshekk. Minghandu rasu fuq ghonqu zgur li hekk qed jghid.Hobz iz-zghir qed jiekluh x-sharks.Il-flus qed jghamlu b'numru ta' nies u tiskanta l-puzzizzjoni li jkollhom! sa' spiccajna anke imhallfin li l-gustizzja suppost tiddependi fuqhom. Ma'jafhux dawn li kollox se'jhallu warajhom u jridu jghatu kont ta'ghemilhom.X-ezempju qed nghatu (skandlu
David Borg
Feb 12th, 16:16
Poor Gonzi. Surrounded by thieves and corruption. Oil, Courts, Mepa, Transport Malta, etc etc......
Sandro Pace
Feb 12th, 17:03
He was the leader, and could have done something about it. Frankly speaking, the responsability is almost all his and his lack of leadership. He thought that the job situation, which is probably not as bad as in other countries, would save the day for him. But there is more to jobs in life. The perception spewed is that this administration do not value public money much. PN need some soul search
Rocco Camilleri
Feb 12th, 16:10
Jahsra l-ahwa x'jiggrielu pajjiz meta jitlef il-valuri !!!!! Possibbli mahniex nindunaw b'dan kollu li qed jigri madwarna. Kaz aghar minn iehor. X'jonqos aktar x'nisimu !!!!!.Il-fibra tal-pajjiz tidher li spiccat jew waslet biex.Hemm bzonn tidhol is-serjeta f'kull qasam kif ukoll l-Onesta. Ahna suppost Kattolici ! mhux hekk.
George Cremona
Feb 12th, 16:52
Min tridu jdahhal il-fibra fil-pajjiz sur Rocco dawk li fis-sebghinijiet u t-tmeninijiet mhux il-fibra kissru imma s-sinsla tal-pajjiz u li ghadhom fil-PL li jekk jirbah l-elezzjoni jkollna nergghu nitwikkew bihom bhala ministri? Lil dawk qed tistenna jdahhlu 's-serjeta f'kull qasam kif ukoll l-Onesta', lil dawk li la jafu fejn toqghod is-serjeta' wisq inqas l-Onesta'? Hallina sur Rocco.
Godfrey Zammit
Feb 12th, 19:46
Le lil min trid tafda lil dawk li qabdu hadu 500 zieda fil gimgha, u lil haddiem tawh 1Euro 16c? Dak li qabel l-ahhar elezzjoni wieghed kollox u ma wettaq xejn, dak li qed jahseb fil ftiet u nesa lill hafna. Dak li jghid li jaf hafna lanqas kien kapaci jorganizza t-trasport publiku.
Davina Sullivan
Feb 12th, 16:01
Before the last election you stood by JPO - once bitten
Giov DeMartino
Feb 12th, 17:24
Bhalissa JPO qieghed fuq is-Super one.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 15:59
Nisperaw li ma' johrog li l-Partit kien qed jiehu xi parti minn dawn il-flus, ghax hadd ma' jghamel xejn ghal xejn jghidu.Ahna issa qed nhossuna nkwetati fuq din il-bicca li jipprottegu lil xulxin.Kulhadd qed jibqa mmareviljat fuq din id-dikjarazzjoni.
j brincat
Feb 12th, 15:03
"Oil tenders - Gonzi stands by Austin Gatt's statement"
Does he has any other choice???
jb
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 16:24
Probably not Mr.Brincat and there are BIG QUESTIONS to be answered. Noone do anything for nothing.
Anthony Scicluna
Feb 12th, 16:48
Yes he does and he is pursuing that choice through investigation. It is called presumption of innocence. It is the law. MLP however are always above the law aren't they. Exactly like sects who deify their leaders and make them beyond God even. This is what you did with Mintoff and what you are doing with Muscat. Fundamentalism in the making
GL Calleja
Feb 12th, 14:58
"he stood by Dr Gatt’s declaration" And what choice does Dr Lawrence Gonzi have? AG runs the PN and Dr Lawrence Gonzi is no fool. Remember when he said that Franco Debono is irrelevant? I wonder where he got that big word? Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 14:50
Veru Dr.Gonzi li donnok int ma' tghaddihx minnghajr Austin. Mhux bizzejjed li kisrilna Partit bl-attitudni arrogantiu tieghu. Ilhom jghidulek tant u ghadek ma' rielizzajtx ! possibbli !!! U biex iktar jitlaqqunna tajjeb lil Partit dan ! ilu li iddikjara li mhux hiereg ghal elezzjoni zmien. Poor Dr.Gonzi we never taught of you like that.
victor bonello
Feb 12th, 14:13
poor Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, betrayed by friends, sold by allies.. tick tock tick tock,,
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 14:53
I can't imagine how he puts his head on the pillow with all this trouble (mess).
*Joseph Brincat
Feb 12th, 14:01
Austin Gatt's have Gonzi pn to stands by him >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7P5jWu9JLo
M Saliba
Feb 12th, 13:58
Dr Gonzi you believe Dr Austin Gatt. Sorry, I am not convinced at all. There is too much circumstantial evidence.
m. borg (slm)
Feb 12th, 13:44
Did gonzi at least ask Austin what he had discussed with Farrugia, was it the feast of San Gejtano or maybe Hamrun Spartans FC?
Gonzi and Austin have yet to answer to Franco Debono's allegation that there is something "Fishy" between the two, whilst Austin Gatt has yet to answer JPO describing him as a liar and that Austin Gatt was ready to swear falsely on a little matter, never mind a big one
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 14:57
You are correct Mr.Borg. Dr.Franco now has got the chance to bombard Austin with questions. Austin has a lot to answer to us citizens and to the justice in court under oath.
Adrian Zahra
Feb 12th, 13:28
If turning it into a business park fails, we could always look at making it a tourist attraction - a host town, perhaps?
Emile Vassallo
Feb 12th, 13:15
How dare anyone question what the Prime Minister says??!! If he says AG or Aust had nothing to do with it then it means that he had nothing to do with it and it should just stop there - let us all forget about it now!
The thing is that after the Zeppi l-Hafi pardon and its result some people might be sceptical about the fruits that the latest Presidential Pardon will bear.
J Mifsud
Feb 12th, 13:14
'I accept the statement' said Gonzi...even when AG and Aust are clear on the emails published by the Times.
Joseph Mifsud
Feb 12th, 13:09
"He described the factory as one of the most important ones in manufacturing in Gozo adding that the PN government was committed to ensuring that Gozitan youths were provided with training and education."
I think he got confused....he wanted to say "its the only factory in gozo"....Xewkija Industrail estate is more like a ghost town.
Mario Camilleri
Feb 12th, 13:07
“I accept his statement,” If I remember correctly the PM took an oath to defend the Constitution of Malta and it's citizens and all that is in the interest of the nation's people. And why is the PM involving himself in such a situation when as he said there is the proclamation and the courts. The people want the truth not what pleases the PM.
Sue De Nym
Feb 12th, 13:03
It seems like everything this man does is accepted. No matter what. Who is truly at the helm?
*Joseph Brincat
Feb 12th, 13:00
Oil tenders - Gonzi stands by Austin Gatt's statement ???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUfS8LyeUyM
Anthony Grech
Feb 12th, 12:58
Turning to the PN electoral programmme, Dr he said the PN government would turn the Xewkija industrial estate into a business park.
Iva issa wara li din l-idustrial estate saret cimiterju?
"He described the factory as one of the most important ones in manufacturing in Gozo"
U liema huma il-fabriki l-ohra Sur GonziPN. Ghax jekk tnehhi il-fabrika tat-tadam ma hemm kwazi xejn izjed.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 12th, 12:55
So if Gatt is found to have had a hand in this mess, will Gonzi then resign and apologise? Or will he as usual find a way of shrugging of his reponsibility? And no, a pardon is not the best tool to expose corruption since the cabinet has to make the conditions for such pardon. A whistleblower act would avoid that. But Gonzi ensured we do not have such a law so as to retain control on damage limit.
Josephine Bonnici
Feb 12th, 12:45
''Turning to the PN electoral programmme, he said the PN government would turn the Xewkija industrial estate into a business park.'' Bongu. Where has he been these past five years? This is 2013.
*Joseph Brincat
Feb 12th, 12:43
SO Austin Gatt HAS GOET GONZI PN STANDING FOR HIM >>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7P5jWu9JLo
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 15:06
Veru qed tajjeb Joseph, itfuh fuq il-ONE TV halli jgawduh hafna.
Maria Xuereb
Feb 12th, 12:28
Gonzi ma marx fil-fabrikil-ohra li hemm f'dak il-qasam industrijali tax-Xewkija? U zgur li le ghax hlief min jaghmel is-sufani, xi mastrudaxxi, forn tal-hobz, tal-gelat u samperija ma hemmx. Il-qasam industrijali tax-Xewkija kien mimbli bhal bjada bil-fabriki fi zmien Gvern tal-Labour u kien hemm mijiet jahdmu hemmhekk imma llum hemm cimiterju ta' fabriki. Grazzi ghal gvern Nazzjonalista.
Thomas C. Cassar
Feb 12th, 12:23
Hallas poplu ha jkollhom x'jahtfu.
P Micallef
Feb 12th, 12:21
The first advice that the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General gave to the PM was that there was no need to give Farrugia a pardon because they had enough evidence to press changes against him. Why did the PM not heed their advice and insisted on giving a pardon? The Prime Minister shoudl explain.
Alfred Vassallo
Feb 12th, 11:53
'I accept his statement,”
But pm the electorate don't, not by any yardstick!!
A Attard
Feb 12th, 12:56
Yes we do.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Feb 12th, 13:02
@Alfred Vassallo
Who are you to presume to represent the electorate?
Tony Agius
Feb 12th, 13:18
Alfred Vassallo, I am part of the electorate just as much as you are, so please speak for your self not for everyone // me.
A Trapani
Feb 12th, 13:41
... you mean part of the electorate ofcourse. Part of the electorate have been condemning Austin Gatt for years, of course, with this going on, now they already came to their own conclusions... truth however is, AG is innocent until proven guilty and that is what the more intelligent half of the electorate accept. If he is found guilty, then he can go to jail for what i care.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 12th, 15:17
Alfred, do you really think Gonzi cares what the electorate believes? He ignored the majority who voted against divorce, stramed ahead with the Piano project when there was very clear opposition to it. The man just exudes arrogance. But like all arrogant men, he will get his comeuppance, even thoug the PN dirty tricks dept is working round the clock.
Alfred Vassallo
Feb 12th, 17:25
ET AL (Gonzipn apologists) Yes your right, almost forgot, let me rephrase it for you...except does who follow Gonzi blindly even though knowing that people of good will believe something totally different. There! That should pacify your conscience.
edward vella
Feb 12th, 11:17
PN Goverment would turn the Xewkija Industrial Estate into a business park...........................ABOUT TIME !!!!! You had all the time in the world to do this!!! Now it's a bit too late!!! Don't you think so???!!!! Incredible,.........but true!!! Bla misthija ta xejn u bil wicc tost kollu!!!
Andrew John Mercieca
Feb 12th, 12:31
IssA jitla l labour u jaghmel genna fl art!
Joe Vella
Feb 12th, 12:52
Ghax bhal dak li qallu il-gvern tal-PN kien rieqed f'dawn l-ahher snin fil-progetti. tighd inti m'ghamel xejn.. Ghax ma ddurx dawra madwar Malta u Ghawdex ha tkun taf...
Joseph Portelli
Feb 12th, 13:04
Sur Edward Vella, jekk ma tafx tisthi tkellem kif tkellimt!!! Ma tafx li kulma sar Ghawdex sar taht gvern nazzjonalista?!? Fit-22 xahar tal-labour, kulma sar Ghawdex kien biss li tnehha l-Ministeru ghal Ghawdex!
A Micallef
Feb 12th, 13:23
Ghala? Taf b'xi gvern li jirnexielu jaghmel kollox f'legislatura wahda? Mux kollox f'waqqtu? Ma ghamilx bizzejjed ghal Ghawdex il PN tul it tmexxijia tieghu? Mux progett, wara progett, wara progett wara progett ghamel. Qad b'idejh fuq zaqqu?
Ronnie Callus
Feb 12th, 16:33
@ Andrew John Mercieca:
Issa nisperaw li tehduha rrisposta.Donkom inthom biss tafu tmexxu u qieskom indispensabbli.Daqs kemm kien indispensabbli l-RCC !! mhux xorta bqajna mexjien.Donnu qed tahsbu li se'tieqaf id-dinja jekk ma'tkomplux inthomTafx zgur li din il-kurruzzjoni hemm bzonn tieqaf ghax pajjiz gibtuh gharkupptejh.Kellu ragun dejjem tiela dejn.
L Zammit
Feb 12th, 17:15
@Ronnie Callus: If I am not mistaken, RCC is still working hand in hand with Dr Gonzi for the benefit of the Maltese people. Ron, God forbid, but time will tell if labour undeservedly win the next election.
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