Former chairman Joseph Grech. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday said that engaging a disgraced Gozo Channel chairman as a government consultant on the ferry line was giving him “another chance”.

After three weeks of silence from the Gozo Ministry and the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr Muscat yesterday conceded that Joseph Grech was working for the Gozo Ministry as a consultant on Gozo Channel.

Asked to justify this appointment following Dr Grech’s forced resignation in 2011 for abusing his power as chairman, Dr Muscat said it fitted his party’s policy that “whoever wants to contribute should be given the chance to do so”.

“What I know about Dr Grech is that under his chairmanship the company was doing well. Problems started when he was forced to resign,” he said.

Asked whether he agreed that Dr Grech had abused his power by calling back a ship to pick him up after it had started its crossing, Dr Muscat reiterated “he deserves to be given another chance”.

Whoever wants to contribute should be given the chance to do so

Three weeks ago, The Sunday Times of Malta revealed that Dr Grech – a Gozitan lawyer – was working for Gozo Minister Anton Refalo a few weeks after Labour won the election.

The newspaper reported Dr Grech was assuming the role of an “unofficial CEO”, ordering staff around and holding meetings with the management.

Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina told Times of Malta that Dr Grech was associated with the company but did not know what his actual role was.

He said Dr Refalo ought to be the one to answer questions on the appointment.

So far the minister has refused to answer this newspaper’s questions about Dr Grech’s role and remuneration package.

Despite being forced to resign by the Government in late 2011, last year Dr Grech instituted legal procedures against Gozo Channel to stop it recruiting a new CEO, as he claimed that he was the best person for the job.

Both the Government and the law courts rejected these claims.