[attach id=255129 size="medium"]President George Abela: “I only made the proposal and shut my mouth.” Photo: Matthew Mirabelli [/attach]
President George Abela is not interested in a second term after his presidency ends in April next year.
Dr Abela made this declaration yesterday on national television at the end of a programme in which he defended his actions in the controversy over the use of charity money to sponsor the study-related costs of a presidential aide.
“I am not interested in another term, although some have asked me to consider this,” he said.
Dr Abela used the occasion to clarify what he said were the facts on the latest controversy that involved his daughter-in-law’s sister, who is employed with the presidential office.
Leaked minutes showed that Dr Abela had proposed to the board of the Community Chest Fund, a charity organisation chaired by the President, that money be used to support Darleen Zerafa in her studies on eating disorders.
Questions have been raised as to whether it was appropriate for the President to make such a proposal given the familial link and the fact that Ms Zerafa works with the presidency.
But the President was unrepentant yesterday, saying that the Community Chest Fund board “unanimously” agreed to finance Ms Zerafa’s travelling costs for a master’s course that she had started of her own volition.
He said Ms Zerafa was asked to leave the room when the board discussed the matter but admitted that he was present throughout the meeting.
“I only made the proposal and shut my mouth,” Dr Abela said when asked why he did not feel the need to leave the meeting.
According to the President, Ms Zerafa “immediately” refused the offer of help.
Dr Abela said he had no regrets on the way he acted and explained that Ms Zerafa was one of four nominees the Community Chest Fund had on a foundation that is developing an eating disorders clinic with the Health Ministry.
Construction work on the clinic in Mtarfa is ongoing and it is expected to open its doors to patients in November.
Ms Zerafa’s input was being used at development stage to ensure the facility is built to the highest of European standards, Dr Abela added.
“Within this context I felt the Community Chest Fund had to gain by helping her out with the travelling costs for a course in eating disorders,” he said.
Dr Abela insisted Ms Zerafa will not be running the clinic, adding that the foundation will shortly issue calls for applications to employ the necessary staff. He said the person who leaked the minutes had to shoulder responsibility, saying that the Community Chest Fund was bound not to publish its minutes because of the confidential nature of cases discussed by the board.