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Backs out of interview to avoid golf course queries
The junior minister in charge of agriculture and fisheries, Frans Agius, has called off an interview with MaltaToday at the eleventh hour after his communications coordinator decided that any questions about the Ghajn Tuffieha golf course should only be put to the Malta Tourism Authority.
The interview had been scheduled for Friday morning and agreed upon for more than a month, but just on the eve of the meeting, Agius’s communications officer, Randolph Spiteri, demanded a list of “all questions re the golf course and any other questions”, adding that the interview would be vetted and edited by the ministry before publication.
Already a month ago, Spiteri said his boss would not answer any questions about the fishing zone controversy with Tunisia and Libya and only set the interview for a month later – enough time for the diplomatic storm with Malta’s southern neighbours to cool into oblivion without taking a stand on the threat to Maltese fishermen.
Now, the golf course proposedby the government is already threatening at least 30 farmers who have been evicted from their agricultural land by the government and Agius is refusing to talk about it.
Spiteri said: “The golf course is a closed chapter. You have every right to speak to the MTA, because this is their project.”
When told the questions about the golf course would be asked anyway, Spiteri said: “Don’t come for the interview.”
When told he would be quoted in a story, Spiteri later sent an e-mail saying that Agius was expecting written questions so that he would answer them, instead of a face-to-face interview.
MaltaToday is informed by government sources that Agius was not even consulted by the prime minister about the eviction of all the farmers from the agricultural land destined to be turned into a golf course.
Spiteri limited himself to saying that Agius “forms part of one and the same government” but would not discuss his involvement in the issue.
Appointed as junior minister in charge of old people’s homes in 2003, Agius is now in charge of farms and fish falling under the wider Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment headed by his superior, George Pullicino – a heavyweight in all senses overshadowing Agius’s political career.
The 45-year-old doctor will remain known for his legendary ‘lapsus’ in 1998, when in parliament he switched his vote in favour of the Labour government
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