Nationalist financial controller moves on
Decision to step down ‘is not related to party’s cash flow problems’
The Nationalist Party’s financial controller is stepping down but insists his decision is “purely professional” and has nothing to do with the party’s financial difficulties.
Antoine Borg, a councillor on the Rabat council, yesterday confirmed he had left.
He told Times of Malta his resignation was “not in any way connected” to the party’s financial problems nor to differences following the election of the party’s new leader, Simon Busuttil.
The PN is mired in financial difficulties. The party failed to pay 150 employees their March salaries on time, eventually settling them the following month, while the April salaries were again not paid on time.
The situation was so bad that at one point the party also considered selling some of its prime properties to solve the problem and receive a much-needed financial injection.
But Mr Borg believes the state of affairs is not as bad as it was made out to be.
“It’s not a financial mess, as you’re putting it. It is a temporary cash flow problem but the party’s asset base remains very strong. We will get out of this situation soon, I believe,” he said, when asked whether he was leaving because he felt responsible for the situation.
Mr Borg, who has been the party’s financial controller for nearly four years, will be joining an auditing firm in the private sector. He said he had spoken to the former and current party leaders, Lawrence Gonzi and Dr Busuttil, as well as to general secretary Paul Borg Olivier about the opportunity and all had encouraged him to go for it while insisting he remained active on a political level.
“They were all very understanding. I did not resign because of the financial situation which, in my opinion, is improving slowly but surely,” he said.
He added: “I love the PN and will continue to do so. This opportunity came along to improve my professional career and I grasped it.
“I understand it’s bad timing but in life there’s always an element of bad timing.”
He will remain a local councillor elected on the PN ticket and intends to contest for the PN executive and has his eyes on the next general election, after having unsuccessfully contested the one held in March.
Moreover, he has offered to voluntarily help in the party’s financial office after-hours.
mxuereb@timesofmalta.com