‘Be appreciative’, says PM of Cachia Caruana’s ‘free’ consultation services

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has rubbished statements suggesting that he was in contempt of parliament when he decided that Richard Cachia Caruana should retain his role as the official advisor to the Prime Minister on EU affairs.

Replying to a question raised by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo in parliament, Gonzi insisted that Cachia Caruana's competence over European Union matters could not be ignored and done away with and his contribution was necessary for Malta.

Questions about Cachia Caruana's role - who also retained his title as ambassador to the EU - were raised again when he accompanied the Prime Minister negotiating meetings with the EU over funds for Malta.

"He is paying a service to Malta and we must show him our appreciation," Lawrence Gonzi reiterated this evening. "I am not challenging parliament's decision... it's a wise and responsible decision which the country is definitely benefitting from."

Gonzi repeated that parliament should be "reasonable and fair with realities and facts", when asked to provide the House with a detailed list of the services provided by Cachia Caruana and how much he was being paid.

The Prime Minister said that Cachia Caruana has been involved in negotiations with the EU from the very beginning: "Cachia Caruana was not only involved but he was there with me, shoulder to shoulder, when we negotiated the first financial programme during which we obtained a billion euro."

Gonzi said that given the respect Cachia Caruana enjoyed in the circles of the European Commission, "we had to use his expertise, his competence and his professionalism for the good of this country".  Gonzi added that, in the national interest, he had to convince Richard Cachia Caruana to remain his advisor.

"And he accepted to do so on my insistence. He accepted to do it even without receiving a salary! In fact, he is not receiving a salary and we only cover certain expenses!" Gonzi said.

Cachia Caruana served as personal assistant to prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami and chief negotiator for EU accession, before becoming ambassador to the EU in 2004. He remains one of the PN's key strategists.

His resignation in June 2012 came after Labour filed a motion calling for his resignation, on the grounds that he had used his office to reactivate Malta's participation in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme, without having to seek the approval of the House of Representatives - based on cables sent by United States ambassadors that were leaked by Wikileaks.

The motion was supported by former Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.