Updated | Labour MP demands apology from Gozitan deputies

Updated with government's reaction

In a statement, government insisted that it voted in favour of the amendment for the expansion of the MCESD. It said that its amendment stated that the expansion of the Council would be based on a unanimous approval by members of the MCESD.

“This approval is required because the law establishing MCESD was designed on agreements between government and the current members sitting on the council,” government said.

According to the House minutes of Monday 10 January, 2011, two amendments were put forward: one by Labour MP Gino Cauchi (amendment A) and another one by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi (amendment B).

Cauchi’s amendment mainly called for the expansion of the MCESD and specifically named the Gozo Business Chamber to be added to the list of the members making up the MCESD.

Among other points, the Prime Minister’s amendment called for the principle that it would be social dialogue, and not “imposition”, that would determine the best solutions. It added that government agreed there should be unanimous agreement by all organizations sitting on the Council for the composition of the MCESD to be changed.

The amendment added that the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for social dialogue – Chris Said – had written to the leaders of the unions members of the Council and requested their reaction on government’s proposal of the expansion of the Council.

On Wednesday 16 February, votes were taken on both amendments. Cauchi’s amendment did not pass with 34 in favour and 35 against; while Gonzi’s amendment passed with 35 in favour and 34 against.

Labour MP Gino Cauchi has demanded that three Nationalist MPs apologise in parliament after Speaker Michael Frendo gave credence to a statement made by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat last Sunday, that government had voted against a motion calling for the expansion of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).

Cauchi said Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said and Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi issued a statement refuting claims made by Muscat that the three government Gozitan MPs had voted against the participation of the Gozo Business Chamber in the MCESD.

He said they should apologise for this statement after having been contradicted by the Speaker of the House. Cauchi also said the three must issue a statement apologising through the Department of Information.

In January 2011, Labour MP Gino Cauchi had moved a parliamentary motion calling for the inclusion of Forum Unions Maltin (Forum) and the Gozo Business Chamber into the MCESD. The motion did not pass with 34 MPs in favour and 35 against.

Last week Muscat said government had voted against the motion, and in a reaction on Sunday evening, government issued a statement denying having ever voted against such motion.

But this evening in Parliament, Cauchi asked Speaker Michael Frendo to give a ruling and state whether government had voted in favour or against.

Frendo, who said that it was not his role to be involved in a political controversy, noted in the minutes that government had indeed voted against.