Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has defended the trip he made with two prominent businessmen in April to watch Arsenal play in a Champions League match, insisting he has a clear conscience about the whole affair.

Mr Fenech said he had sought clearance from the Prime Minister before accepting to accompany George Fenech and Joe Gasan, on the former's private jet, to watch the English team play in Spain. He also revealed that an anonymous letter two months ago had tried to blackmail him over the trip, although the letter wrongly claimed he had been to Wimbledon.

In an interview with The Times, the minister said he did not offer his resignation after the controversial trip was made public by a newspaper on Sunday, adding that he enjoyed the Prime Minister's confidence.

"If he (the Prime Minister) feels that because of this circumstance I am not fit to carry on in my job I will resign," Mr Fenech says.

He explained that the tickets and the flight were provided for free but he paid for his accommodation. The travelling party also included Mr Gasan's son and the minister's own son and nephew.

The minister became embroiled in this controversy after MaltaToday reported that during Saturday's Nationalist Party parliamentary group, MP Franco Debono accused him of having a conflict of interest over the gaming regulations, having been on a trip with George Fenech.

George Fenech has a direct interest in two casinos and is also bidding for the management of the Dragonara Casino, which falls under the minister's remit. Apart from this, the new gaming regulations, which are intended to place stricter controls on gambling parlours, have been interpreted by operators as benefiting casinos.

Contacted yesterday, Dr Debono denied having accused the minister: "I only questioned the matter because it was something people were asking. Who am I to determine whether Tonio Fenech has a conflict of interest or not?"

Mr Fenech confirmed that it was not Dr Debono who first raised the issue during the meeting but the Prime Minister, who was aware of an anonymous letter that was posted to the minister some two months ago.

The letter tried to blackmail him over an alleged trip he had made with George Fenech to watch a tennis match at Wimbledon, although the minister said he had never been there. It alleged he was closing the gambling parlours to favour George Fenech's business interests. The anonymous writer also claimed that he had photos to prove the minister had been on the alleged trip.

Mr Fenech insisted he would not give in to threats by people who have much to lose from the government's latest drive to curb illegal gaming.

"The people making good money from these outlets can tarnish me as much as they want but they will not get what they want," he said, admitting that the allegations may have dented his credibility with a "couple of honest people".

The full text of the interview in being carried today in The Times.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091013/local/i-have-the-prime-ministers-trust