Venditti performance postponed by a week after PBS ‘blocks’ sponsor money

A concert by Italian singer Antonello Venditti at Ta' Qali was last week postponed to tomorrow, not because of former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff's demise, but because of a garnishee order issued by the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) against the sponsors for the event.

The garnishee order - which has been temporarily lifted after conciliatory meetings - was intended to divert the sponsor money to PBS, rather than to the organiser Antonella Vassallo, who runs Stand-Out Events, which is organising the concert.

PBS is reportedly owed substantial amounts of money from the former television producer and presenter.

TV presenter Antonella Vassallo

In a press statement issued last week, Stand-Out Events said that the concert was being postponed by a week in the wake of  Dom Mintoff's death. The concert will now be held tomorrow.

Contacted, PBS chief executive Anton Attard - an advisor to Prime Minister Lawerence Gonzi during the 2008 elections campaign - confirmed that a garnishee order was issued by PBS, but denied having requested the order to stop the concert.

Anton Attard, PBS chief executive, also organises A-list concerts.

Attard said that the only reason behind the garnishee order was for PBS to collect monies which have been long overdue.

Meanwhile, talks between PBS and Antonella Vassallo have led to an agreement over a repayment programme.

The action raised eyebrows as PBS took the unusual route of blocking payments from sponsors, rather than issuing the garnishee order directly against Vassallo or Stand-Out Events.

It also raised eyebrows over the conflict of interest PBS chief executive Anton Attard may have over the matter, given that he is also involved in NnG Promotions, which organise A-List artist concerts.