Gozo Minister Anton Refalo is refusing to reply to questions on the engagement of former Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Grech as his consultant.
Last month, The Sunday Times of Malta revealed that despite being forced to resign as Gozo Channel chairman at the end of 2011, after summoning a ferry to return to port to pick him up, Dr Grech has now been engaged by the Labour Government to act as a consultant to the minister on Gozo Channel matters.
Gozo Channel sources had told this newspaper that in his new role, Dr Grech is effectively acting as the company’s unofficial CEO, giving orders on behalf of the minister.
Current Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina had confirmed that Dr Grech attended meetings with the company’s management but said he was unaware of his actual role. He said such questions should be directed to the minister.
However, various attempts to obtain the minister’s reaction have proved futile as neither Dr Refalo nor his officials provided replies.
Following numerous phone calls and e-mails for the past three weeks, copied also to the Office of the Prime Minister, a spokesman for Dr Refalo said: “I have forwarded your questions but the minister didn’t tell us how to respond yet.”
Asked when the minister would reply, his spokesman said he had no idea.
The Sunday Times of Malta asked Dr Refalo to explain why despite being forced to resign from his position in 2011 for inappropriate conduct, Dr Grech has been given another position of trust by the Government with the same company he used to chair.
Dr Refalo was also asked to state Dr Grech’s role, his terms of reference and his remuneration.
In November 2011, Dr Grech was on his way to Malta with his family to catch a ferry at 7.30pm, not realising that the winter schedule of the company he was responsible for dictated that the ferry left port at 7.15pm.
Baffled commuters and tourists who had got on the ferry at the correct time found themselves being taken to Mġarr again after the chairman demanded that it be turned back.
After his forced resignation at the end of 2011, Dr Grech had insisted on becoming the ferry’s CEO.
When his application was turned down, Dr Grech filed legal proceedings against Gozo Channel, claiming he was “the most qualified person for the job”.
The court had dismissed his application.