In an interview with Herman Grech (The Sunday Times, February 24) Alfred Sant stated that I received some €20,000 (Lm8,586) from public funds to finance coffee table books.

My company through its publishing division Miranda Publishers produces and publishes books - and has done so since 1989 - which promote the beauty of Malta's cultural and historical heritage. It is worth mentioning that the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund was established with the aim of "helping out various individuals, agencies or organisations that have a social, cultural, educational, sports, philanthropic or religious activity".

My company was sponsored by the Ministry of Finance through the National Lotteries Good Causes Fund to the tune of €23,293 (Lm10,000) to produce one of its books in the 360° series with an undertaking to provide the Government "with 800 free copies for the purposes of distributing the books to public libraries in Malta and Gozo, including libraries managed by local councils, to other ministries, who will use the books for official purposes, and for other purposes as deemed appropriate by the Ministry from time to time".

This in effect works out at €29.12 (Lm12.50) per copy, which is 25 per cent of the retail price of this particular book, namely €115.31 (Lm49.50).

It is indeed a shame that Dr Sant implies that my company received this sponsorship because of my political convictions; it is even worse that he implies there is a shadow of corruption in this arrangement.