PN media concedes it was not minister who called ferry back

The Nationalist Party’s media arm has taken back “allegations” it made in September 2013, when it reported that Gozo Minister Anton Refalo had ordered a Gozo Channel ferry to turn back and pick him up.

Referring to several articles it published on the incident, Media.Link communications said it was formally retreating the allegations and issued an apology for “the inconvenience caused.”

Anton Refalo filed three libel cases after the Nationalist media reported that it was Refalo himself who ordered M.V. Gaudos to turn back, when it left the harbour without letting the passengers boarding.

The PN media arm said that it now transpired that although Refalo had called a Gozo Channel official to demand an explanation, it was a company official who took the decision and not Refalo, as had been previously stated by Media.link. “The minister was not informed of the official’s decision,” Media.Link said, referring to a sworn statement lodged in court by Refalo.

The PN’s spokesperson for Gozo Giovanna Debono had also issued a statement on the case.

Refalo had claimed he was the “sacrificial lamb” in the controversy that saw an empty Gozo ferry recalled to port to pick up passengers, including himself.

Gozo Channel issued a statement saying the vessel had been ordered back to Cirkewwa by duty manager Teddie Pace after he received a call from a passenger, who identified himself as the Gozo Minister. Gozo Channel said it was company policy that waiting passengers embark even if the vessel happens to be on its last journey before docking.

Refalo however has stated that he had never spoken to the duty manager, although he tried to.