Nationalist Party secretary general Chris Said is insisting the e-mail he received from a Gozitan contractor never mentioned abuse despite its reference to “works for votes”.
Defending his lack of action over the e-mail received in May 2014, Dr Said yesterday said there was nothing to report about. The e-mail at the centre of controversy was sent by contractor Joe Cauchi to Dr Said on May 20, 2014, complaining of not being paid for private work that had been done “for votes” under the previous administration.
But Dr Said was unfazed when questioned about the matter. When contacted, he insisted the questions be sent to him by e-mail.
“The e-mail you are referring to [sent by Mr Cauchi in May 2014] does not refer to any abuse,” Dr Said replied. Asked why he had not informed party leader Simon Busuttil of the “works for votes” scheme highlighted in the e-mail, Dr Said insisted: “There was nothing to inform anyone about and there was no further action which I could take.”
Dr Busuttil has told Times of Malta the Cauchi e-mail was only brought to his attention by Dr Said last Friday, and he denied ever having any knowledge of the alleged scam. Mr Cauchi was the first whistleblower to lift the lid on an alleged scam that saw construction material provided by the construction department at the Gozo Ministry for use in private works. The department was run by former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono’s husband Anthony.
The police are investigating the claims but Ms Debono and her husband have both denied wrongdoing.
In his e-mail to Dr Said, the contractor had asked whether he would remain without payment for private works carried out for votes, also providing a non-exhaustive list of jobs done.
Dr Said yesterday explained that he requested a meeting with Mr Cauchi after receiving the e-mail.
The secretary general reported that during the meeting Mr Cauchi only asked him to intervene with the Għarb mayor on payments related to works in the locality.
Dr Said said that some weeks after the meeting he spoke to the Għarb mayor about the claims and the mayor informed him that the council had no payments due to Mr Cauchi.
“At that point in time, I phoned Mr Cauchi, informed him of this information, and advised him to seek legal advice.
“At no point did Mr Cauchi ask me to intervene on payments due to him by the Gozo Ministry and at no point did he make reference to any alleged abuse, which surfaced in the media in the past weeks.”
Dr Said insisted that during the meeting Mr Cauchi had informed him that he was in contact with Gozo Minister Anton Refalo and the issue was being dealt with by him.
The secretary general said he had no idea who the contractor was before Malta Today, which broke the story at the beginning of March, published an e-mail Mr Cauchi had sent to PN Whip David Agius.
“It was only David Agius who informed me of the name of the contractor making these allegations,” Dr Said noted.
He insisted that he was giving “all the details” on the issue of which he was aware.
“I have nothing to hide. It was I who revealed the fact that I had met Mr Cauchi. It was I who called for a press conference and answered any and all questions by the media last Saturday and am still replying to questions, like I am doing to yours.
“It is important to note that this differs completely to the attitude taken by Joseph Muscat and Anton Refalo.”
Questions sent to the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday as to what Dr Refalo did with the allegations when they reached him in November last year, remained unanswered.
An attempt to make contact with Mr Cauchi was met by a “thank you, bye”. He then put down the phone.
‘Works for votes’ e-mail
Excerpts of the e-mail published in Malta Today last Sunday. This is a literal translation from Maltese. The email was sent to PN secretary general Chris Said by Joe Cauchi on May 20, 2014 at 4.29pm. The subject line was ‘The Problems’. Dr Said insists the e-mail did not claim abuse.
“Dr Said and on the other work... done in [the] private [sector] for votes, am I going to remain empty-handed? Today all those people who took thousands of €uros and who know that I did not get paid, today... they do not speak to me, I think their heads are buried in the sand, because they are supposed to know that I have photos...”
...
“Dr Said, a short list of works for votes,
A reservoir at Nadur we cut out the rock + bricks + concrete.
A basement in Rabat [Victoria] where excavations took place and other work.
Concrete and stone and excavation works for a person in Għarb done to accomodate two floors and garages.
A road where a fireworks factory exploded which I did on the Saturday of the Fontana election...
Car parks and private garages and private roads galore.”
...
“If you please this work was done, and it was done for votes only... the solution is simple pay me for my debts because I am in the red and paying interest.”
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com