Gonzi denies knowledge of parliamentary warnings on Frank Sammut
Prime Minister not aware that minister had been informed that MOBC chief executive could have had conflict of interest.
24 January 2013, 12:00am
Nestor Laiviera
Nestor Laiviera
2 min read
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has denied having been aware in 2004 that Minister Austin Gatt had been informed in parliament that officials in the government-owned MOBC could have a conflict of interest due to their dealings with the private sector.
Gonzi was fielding questions during a press conference that unveiled a sneak peek preview of the Nationalist Party's upcoming electoral proposals.
But the prime minister is insisting that Frank Sammut, a former chief executive of MOBC who is alleged to have received kickbacks from commodities firm Trafigura for the sale of oil to Enemalta, was employed in is position at MOBC by the Labour government of Alfred Sant.
The former Labour minister Leo Brincat has denied the claim, saying that Sammut was appointed chief executive after the Labour government lost the 1998 election.
"This person was employed in his place by the Labour government under Alfred Sant, between 1996 and 1998, and appointed specifically to perform a function related to these issues."
Gonzi insisted that any questions on Frank Samut should not be put to him, but to Labour leader Joseph Muscat. "One should put these questions to the leader of the Opposition so that he can explain."
Asked what steps he would take if re-elected, to fight such instances of conflicts of interest among people holding public positions, Gonzi reiterated the PN's track record, saying that all the instruments in place to fight corruption had been introduced by the PN following the 1987 election.
"I assure you that this is what we shall keep doing, and we shall remain firm in our fight against corruption, and take all steps necessary so that any conflicts of interest are eliminated whenever people are nominated to a board."
Gonzi fended off questions from other journalists, who asked him to react to Muscat's suggestions that the corruption inside Enemalta ran deeper than Sammut's affiliation to the corporation. When asked how he would define "political responsibility" in the case that high officials end up facing charges in court, Gonzi skirted the question. "Ask Joseph Muscat. I think he has to answer for what happened and what didn't happen in the period when Frank Sammut was chosen to head, or be part of, the decisions taking place in that sector."
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To be clear, for the life of me, will someone warn and advice Gonzi that blaming it all on Muscat will not work like it did, when all glory was shone on him in the 2008 elections. It will work against you Gonz! Stop being stupid and regain some credibility.
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"One should put these questions to the leader of the Opposition so that he can explain."......U BIR RAGUN GHAX FIL MEETING TAR RABAT MUSCAT WERA LI JAF HAFNA FUQ IL KAZ U WASAL GHAL HAFNA KONKLUZZJONIJIET. QATTUSA GHAGGELIJA FRIEH GHOMJA TGHAMEL.
Paul Sammut •
What has employment at MOBC got to do with Enemalta buying fuel oil?
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Posibbli għad hawn nies bċieċen li għadhom jemmnu lill-Gonzi li ma kienx jaf dan kollu ? Mela x'kien ikun jagħmel il-parlament , jorqod , jiskanta , jew jimmedita fuq liema gidba jmissu jgħid . Posibbli li dak li qal Dr Frank Portelli ma semax dwaru ? Kif ma jistħix jgħid li ma kienx jaf ? Lanqas il-Ministru Dr Austin Gatt ma kien jaf ? Inthom taħsbu li in-nies għadhom ċwieċ u ma jafux li inthom hlief gideb ma tgħidux ? Korruzzjoni istituzzjonalizzata hawn f'dan il-pajjiz u xejn aktar .
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That's funny - wasn't he present? wasn't he paying attention? wasn't he listening? Perhaps he was protesting because he wasn't being paid enough (Euro 600 a week less)? It's amazing that he remembers everything that Joseph Muscat said when he was still a journalist in 2003 but does not remember anything that happened when he was a Minister in the same Cabinet and an MP in the same Parliament. A very bad case of selective memory.
Lawrence Covin •
@franco: but Gonzi is only a pm in title; de facto and exclusively, he is just the inept head of a moribund party. Mind you, the word 'party' should be read more in terms of a 'xalata'. By their words shall you know them.
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Gonzi has really hit the bottom. He never knows anything about any wrong-doing in his administration. Very much like an ostrich really, pushing his head in the sand. What he does not seem to realize that whether he likes it or not he will be swept aside unceremoniously first by the electorate and then by his 'friends' in the party. His days are counted and he knows it. So does the majority of level-headed people in this country.
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Sur Pm
Smajtek tgid li lil F sammut ghamlu A Sant mintix tiprova tghati impressjoni li F Sammut Laburist Hu ??? Hu billi kieku ghamlu A Sant il hnisrijiet mhux tahtek ghamilhom jew issa se twahhal fil Labour ukoll ???
LE ma kont taf xejn xinhu jigri?? ma nohodix bi kbira ta ghax qatt ma tkun taf xejn saqsi lil Frank Portelli ?? halli jedlek
Dal ghodu mort iddur care malta hu ghedt li Crae malta kibret tafu ghaliex ?? ARAW GHALIEX !!!!
No wonder Care Malta has grown so much under this government !! Ms. Nathalie Briffa Farrugia is Zaren Vassallo’s daughter !!
Anette B Cassar •
What a load of rubbish. Even if Frank Sammut was appointed by the then MLP, the incident happened on Gonzi's watch. On another note, Gonzi's track record includes not taking action on Tonio Fenech taken by private jet to an Arsenal game by business people interested in his gaming legislation. Furthermore, what about Tonio Fenech's campaign secretary or whatever who was found guilty of trading in influence?
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"Ask Joseph Muscat....." What a pitiful, pathetic and deplorable PM we have been settled with the past 5 years.
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What kind of a PM was gonzi, knows nothing about anything? So Austin Gatt did not inform the PM about the parliamnetary revelations on Sammut. Franco Debono was right Austin simply pulls gonzi's strings and gonzi dances.
