Gatt defends decision to remove oil board chairman
Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt has defended a 2005 decision to remove Joe Falzon, the chairman of Enemalta’s Advisory Board, which dealt with policy-making rather than oil procurement itself.
He said he had breached recruitment procedures when he hired two graduates.
Eventually, Enemalta initiated the correct procedure and one graduate was employed.
Prof. Falzon was replaced as chairman by Roderick Chalmers but remained a member of the board till the end of his term.
Labour MP Evarist Bartolo said last week that Dr Gatt had removed Prof. Falzon from chairman of the advisory committee after he had asked for two graduates to carry out research on the oil market and the exchange rate. He argued that people involved in the committee felt they had been used at the time in light of the revelations that were made recently with regard to oil procurement.
Full story in The Times
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Julian Borg
Feb 18th, 16:42
May I remind everyone in here that the MLP have closed a blind eye to drug trafficking in their own backyard - this is their two weights two measures. ANYONE who has the interest of their children at heart will condemn the MLP's and Toni Abela's actions but when it comes to taking a real stance the MLP have always been found wanting.
Perpetually on the wrong side of right!
Mario Camilleri
Feb 18th, 14:35
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964663.aspx - Locales Added in Windows XP Service Pack 2
Din naħseb iġġib fix-xejn l-argumenti li ġab Austin Gatt vis-a-vis id-data tal-Malti u l-kliem bl-Ingliż fuq l-imejls kif ukoll il-manipulazzjoni tagħhom bl-argument ta' 'frame-up'.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 18th, 19:41
Full proof Mario.This shows that in 2003 the Maltese was already installed and not as Dr.Gatt said in 2006. He is not inline with the Technology. Who told him so to say it was a Frame -up.
j brincat
Feb 18th, 13:50
@Joe Tabone
"The PN government are fighting corruption, but what about LABOUR (MLP)???"
AND then the promised Whistleblower's Act remained 5 whole years on the back burner?
Why?
jb
GL Calleja
Feb 18th, 14:10
Why? Usually it is because someone or somebody has something to hide, if the " Whistle Blower Act" is enacted. And at this rate it seems there is plenty to hide.
Joe Tabone
Feb 18th, 14:18
@J Brincat,
ALL the institutions to fight corruption were established by PN governments. PN fights corruption, but Labour ZERO action. The 'barunijiet' allegations are a case in point, LABOUR were elected in 1996 but did NOTHING!!!
Mario Camilleri
Feb 18th, 17:21
@Joe Tabone,
You stated that all constitutions against corruption were established by PN. If so why did the Auditor General and the PAC state that there was a substantial amount of smoke but couldn't get to the fire in the BWSC saga? And why did the GonziPN-A.G.give pardon in this case when the police stated that they had enough evidence to take the case to court? "Something is fishy" said Franco
Joe M Borg
Feb 18th, 17:25
j brincat PL had a GREAT opportunity to show how they will act when the act becomes law. Anglu acted as a whistleblower, warning us of what is happening within PL. What did PL do? :-o Another whisleblower told us about Zarb's pushups and blackmail. What did PL do? :-o Yet another told us about white dust in PL club. What did PL do? :-o Keep it up, Joseph!
vincent Lia
Feb 18th, 12:58
Sur Callus il kurrizjoni mhux kibret imma qed jinqabad min jikkometiha. PL jaghtti tieghu u jikxef ta hadd iehor. Tal misthija li il PL ghadu qed jidefendi lil Toni Abela talli ma rapurtax kaz ta trifikar ta droga bil blokka u evidenza konkreta. Kull citadin ghandhu obligu li jghin lil pulizija. Dik id droga tqasmet u nbighed biex toqtol. Kull ma kellhu jaghamel Toni Abela jammetti li ghamel zball
Antoine Ferrito
Feb 18th, 17:22
U kull ma kellhom jaghmlu n-Nazzjonalisti hu li jmorru jirrappurtaw, m'hux jistennew iz-zmien jghaddi mbaghad jitkellmu meta jkun hemm xi kaz kontrihom u jkollhom bzonn jaljenaw in-nies.
Michael Sammut
Feb 18th, 12:30
It's about credibility. Someone who submits false statements of assets cannot be believed. The only thing left to do is resign, not continue in power no matter what. But then again, only a few weeks left.
Joe M Borg
Feb 18th, 17:29
Do you mean Joseph Muscat? Because his deputy was caught lying about his speaking to the police about the Attard case. His deputy also protected a drug dealer, who is STILL FREE making money out of our youth's misery. Joseph is STILL PL leader, in spite of protecting HIM who protected drug dealers, and interfeared with police work. Yes, I agree with you, Joseph should resign.
Michael Sammut
Feb 19th, 07:01
I did say statement of assets Mr Borg. Probably something one inadvertently misses when wearing blue tinted lenses. I have no allegiances which stem from brainwashing, but believe it is high time for change. The day the PN starts to behave sensibly and treats people with the respect they deserve, I will listen again, but until then they can completely forget my support.
Julian Borg
Feb 18th, 11:48
To all those clamouring for action against corruption can you please tell us what actions you expect when corruption is uncovered other than passing it on to the police?
Michael Sammut
Feb 18th, 12:25
Resignation from those responsible. At ministerial level. No more pass the buck. In Angela Merkel's government, her Education Minister resigned due to plagiarism during her doctorate. A piddly matter compared to not declaring Swiss bank accounts to Parliament. But then Germany is a serious country where these things are unacceptable, not like ours where anything goes, and the PM himself defends it
m. borg (slm)
Feb 18th, 12:27
The three Laws that PL will enact before the coming summer would sure help in controlling it.
Eradicating corruption is like saying eradicating rats, we are all humans and no matter how many laws are in place there is always does who try to beat the system.
PL is not promising total eradication but better tools to work with against corruption, something that gonzi could have done in his 8 years
Julian Borg
Feb 18th, 16:39
@Michael Sammut - how do you compare a matter where the minister is personally involved with one where he has nothing to do with it?
@m.Borg - the presidential pardon is the strongest instrument that can be used to uncover the truth. There is no better tool - this has nothing to do with prescription periods or whistle blowing - those are child's play compared to a presidential pardon.
Joe M Borg
Feb 18th, 17:32
Sammut and m borg. PL is not trustworthy. They want the whistleblower act, BUT WHEN THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACT, they failed. Anglu is the best example. He blew his whistle about what is going on within PL. What did PL do? NOTHING! Between words and facts.... About the drug dealer within a PL club, again they did NOTHING. With their action they are ABETTING crime.
william cauchi
Feb 18th, 11:31
True Charles V.Schembi, lots and lots of procedures to employ in Public Service.
But history has always shown us, that this is just a complicated smokescreen, so that the "right coloured, yes Minister, favorites" always end up being chosen.
This is something that many look forward to change, but will it ever really happen? Let's not keep fingers crossed for too long.
Victor Vella
Feb 18th, 11:31
Whatever Gatt says has to be taken with a pinch of salt. How can somebody take this person seriously . The only reasonable way is to resign together with all those who are supporting him.
GL Calleja
Feb 18th, 14:03
Stop asking for resignations. There are only a few weeks to election time and you know Austin Gatt is not running for office, so why should he resign now. Austin Gatt ran against the odds and it seems so far he won. The future is yet to be told.
Joe M Borg
Feb 18th, 17:34
Victor What about a leader of the opposition who is told by his deputy (Tony's own words), that a drug dealer is within their club, and yet this leader does NOTHING? PL is abetting crime!
Joseph Portelli
Feb 18th, 11:06
Ahna qed naghmlu kampanja pozittiva - Joseph Muscat! Hlief attakki kontinwi kontra Austin Gatt ma tismax hergin minn fommu u s-super one!! It-tajba hi li ghad m'hemm l-ebda prova li Austin Gatt huwa korrott - il-provi li hemm huma biss x'qal u x'ghamel Toni Abela u Toni Zarb u dawn qisu ma gara xejn!
S. Attard
Feb 18th, 11:05
Proberbju Malti jghid; Hadd wara Hadd tasal ta kulhadd.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 18th, 14:06
Naqbel mieghek Sur Attard.
Emanuel Farrugia - TARXIEN
j brincat
Feb 18th, 10:50
"He said he had breached recruitment procedures when he hired two graduates"
OMG!!!
His fault: hiring two graduates!
jb.
victor bonello
Feb 18th, 10:47
PN is once again trying to confuse the electorate as they did ( me for 1) 5 years ago with the JPO saga.
A Deja Vu scenario.
Sorry it will not work with me this time! Without wanting to point fingers or judge, I simply say " You have tired me out" - enough lies and excuses - GO HOME!
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 18th, 10:40
Together we stand divided we fall. Sewwa AustAG?
James Grech
Feb 18th, 09:56
While Gatt persists on defending his decisions, he fails to realise that maybe these decisions led to the abuse we're now hearing about. Elsewhere, minister Fenech, this time, is saying that he failed to make the connection between Farrugia's tax-evasion case and the oil procurement case, even though the TCU knew about Farrugia's various oil related companies since 2010. The plot thickens!!
Ian Ellul
Feb 18th, 09:51
Austin Gatt's position is untenable and he must resign immediately. Whether he is, or not himself involved is irrelevant. What is relevant is this scandal happened on his watch. He has to go. Period!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Feb 18th, 11:49
I cannot even beging to imagine that in another EU country a minister in his position would not resign. To me, he is still there in order to be able to control the damage to the PN - party before country once again.
C Muscat
Feb 18th, 09:48
Ma Autin Gatt kulhadd hazin barra hu... seamalta...bov...enemalta u ma niftakarhomx kollha. kemm kellu ragun Franco.
U Gonzi aqwa ghax judge and jury il-hin kollu....
Poplu Malti thallix dittatura ta izjed minn 25 sena ghax kif qal JM issa iktar minn bizzejjed.
Xejn xejn jieqfu l-commissions.
Gil Borg
Feb 18th, 09:46
If one is a voting floater it is difficult to choose who to vote since both parties have to something to say about corruption. It should have been a fresh start if one has to vote labour but maybe it is not the case since they are the same party as they were and same old stuff.
Michael Farrugia
Feb 18th, 09:17
So what should happen to some one that does more than break with procedure ? For example, someone who makes a great mess of his ministry !!!!!
Michael Campbell
Feb 18th, 08:24
So two measures Gatt?
For someone who claims to be infallible.
, whiter than white and totally above board, you have to not only do the talk but do the walk.
May you be measured by the same.measure you used to annihilate people in your pth that were between you and the millions.
Jpo b4 u, now u.
Lest we forget.
charles v schembri
Feb 18th, 08:04
Sur Mallia jekk ma tifhimx fkif isir ir-recruitment fis-Servizz Pubbliku jekk joghgbok iskot.
Hemm proceduri li iridu jigu segwiti. L-intenzjoni setghet kienet tajba izda l-mod kif impjega kien hazin.
Mario Camilleri
Feb 18th, 11:53
@charles v schembri,
Infakrek li kien Gatt innifsu li kien qal li l-ministru għandu d-dritt hu jqabbad in-nies tal-fiduċja tiegħu u li jkunu ta' twemmin nazzjonalista f'ministeri u postijiet sensittivi. U naħseb li hekk ġara u m'hemmx proċeduri tas-servizz pubbliku f'dan il-każ. U hawn tidħol ir-responsabbilita li għandu jġorr kull ministru u l-PM mhux billi jghidu huma.
Victor Mallia
Feb 18th, 07:32
Gatt ghandu hafna x'jirrispondi! Mela nies li riedu aktar kontrol u serjeta jitqacctu fl-istess hin li nies ohra shady jgawdu! Kif nistghu nemmnuk Dr.Gatt?
Joe Tabone
Feb 18th, 07:31
The PN government are fighting corruption, but what about LABOUR (MLP)???
Are the 'BARUNIJIET" back??? LABOUR (PL) did nothing in 1996 and are doing nothing now.........WHY?
Daniel Borg
Feb 18th, 07:49
Nies bhalek itelfu l voti lil gonzipn..
Michael Magri
Feb 18th, 08:10
Sur Tabone.. Are you forgetting that the PN has been in government for the last 25 years, and the last 5 of them under the GonziPN-Klikka`s regime...!!
Paul Micallef
Feb 18th, 08:36
Hallina joe Tabone! PN fighting corruption? Or defending themselves so that they do not get caught? Like 'Aust'? Ghalhekk dahhalha l ligi tal whistleblower act gonzipn!!! Hallina!
Anthony A. Mifsud
Feb 18th, 08:45
What? Mr. Joe Tabone, you must be living in outer space or your media mentor is stuck back in the mid eighties \. Nineties , that's where the Barunniet were ... Look up the records! Presidential pardons and so forth
This time the PL in on the right side of the story .... You can sling mud. But it's all boomerang effect ....
You better rethink
Ninu
Mario Camilleri
Feb 18th, 08:58
The PN government are fighting corruption?? This must be the joke of the millennium. The barunijiet that you are mentioning are those who are getting the commissions and are all around us. I pay taxes and others getting commission from them. Dawk huma il-barunijiet jew il-klikka jew l-oligarkija!!!!
H. Psaila
Feb 18th, 09:02
@ Michael Magri - I think you have forgotten that Alfred Sant was in power during 1996 and 1998. So PN has not been in power for 25years. It seems Labour want to forget that period completely because of the disaster during that period.
Joe Tabone
Feb 18th, 11:14
The argument is simple - the PN in government established ALL the institutions to fight corruption, and people are being caught and justiced.
But LABOUR (PL) did nothing in 1996-1998, just allegations of 'barunijiet' pre-1996 election and No prosecutions after, when in government. Now we have the same, but worse, a cover-up !
Deputy Leader PL = NO ACTION !!!
twanny borg
Feb 18th, 11:17
@joe tabone - tidher li qrasthom. Pero sewwa ghidt il-pl tajbin biss biex isibu xi pulizija laburist jew ma jirrapurtawx kazijiet ta' blokka droga. Gonzi ma jiprotegi jew jiddefendi l-hadd anki jekk ikun kaz li jimbarazza l-partit. Prosit.
Ronnie Callus
Feb 18th, 12:09
Sur.Tabone, il-Gven nazzjonalista jiggieled il-kurruzzjoni bl-ingwanti tal-harir jew tal-lastiku ghax kieku ma' kibritx din il-kurruzzjoni kollha f'dawn l-ahhar 25 sena. Tista tmerrih dan ? Kellna kurruzzjoni f'kull qasam sa anke fl-ghola istuttuzjonijiet tal-pajjiz (il-Magistratura fil-Qrati) u tibqa sejra fil-Ministeri kollha hlif ki kolli nghid fil-Ministeru tat-Turizmu.
Joe Bonanno
Feb 18th, 16:29
Just because the PN established "institutions" it doesn't make it a fact that the PN have been actively fighting corruption.The only time the PN seems to act is when some other party bares the facts to them and they have to act. Maybe you consider the oil procurement scandal as trivial. It was the gov't that brought it to the fore.
Please choose the reason of your report below: