In his latest Facebook rant, the Prime Minister’s special envoy to the World Tourism Organisation, Joe Grima, lashed out at former President Eddie Fenech Adami, describing him as “the greatest embarrassment ever”.
The damning comments contrast sharply with the view expressed in Illum some years ago, when Mr Grima described Dr Fenech Adami as “a credible statesman”.
“All in all, I think Fenech Adami should be remembered as a politician, if not a credible statesman who gave an important contribution for the country to progress in various spheres of life,” the former Labour minister said.
Mr Grima had famously presented a current affairs programme on Nationalist TV after he fell out with former Prime Minister Alfred Sant.
However, Mr Grima yesterday expressed a diametrically opposed view, when he resorted to Facebook to react to the remarks made last Tuesday on Times Talk by PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami, the former Prime Minister’s son.
Speaking on the programme, which discussed political accountability, the Nationalist deputy leader criticised the government for failing to act on Mr Grima’s “embarrassing” remarks.
Mr Grima hit back: “In my opinion his father [Eddie Fenech Adami] will be remembered in history as the greatest embarrassment that has ever stepped in and out of the House of Representatives.”
In my opinion, his father will be remembered in history as the greatest embarrassment that has ever stepped in and out of the House
He backed his argument, saying Dr Fenech Adami had resisted the introduction of divorce, imposed his values on the country when he was Prime Minister, and appointed himself President soon after stepping down as the head of government.
The Office of the Prime Minister yesterday declined to comment when asked if Mr Grima would be facing disciplinary action.
The special envoy could not be contacted over his phone or by e-mail for his reaction yesterday.
Such an outburst from the former Tourism Minister is not isolated, even if such comments are in breach of his contract, according to a recent report in The Sunday Times of Malta.
Mr Grima’s three-year contract stipulates that “the special envoy may not, at any time, express views which run counter to government policy.
“Serious breaches of this nature may result in immediate termination of [the] employment agreement.”
A further clause states the special envoy may not issue a declaration to the media and/or the press without prior authorisation from the Prime Minister.
Since his appointment soon after Labour was elected to government in 2013, Mr Grima has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
Among others, he levelled harsh criticism against President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca because of her support for migrant integration.
“Malta’s President has consigned her presidency to absolute and total irrelevance when she speaks about immigration and integration of the Maltese with African and Eastern European immigrants,” he wrote.
Mr Grima had also described human rights NGO Aditus Foundation as “cultural rapists”. The Prime Minister has refused to condemn his comments, while a government spokesman downplayed the incident, saying Mr Grima was just expressing his “opinion”.