How politics, lobbies and business merge through Malta’s close-knit networks
Rocking the boat In 2007, the former PN secretary-general was filmed by Labour’s TV crew going on with PN donor and former Mosta mayor Nazzareno Vassallo on the latter’s cabin cruiser, effectively ruining his summer trip with his building buddy. Saliba had only recently admitted in public that his party accepted undeclared donations from big businesses, in particular, the construction industry. He insisted he was a private individual who had a right to privacy, like everybody else, when questioned on his choice of holiday companion.
Goodwill hunting Michael Falzon, then Labour deputy leader, holidayed with a group of people – including Richard Cilia, a committee member of the hunters’ lobby FKNK – to Romania in December 2007 to catch some prize ducks. Falzon had back then curtly told MaltaToday it was “nobody’s business where he goes on holiday”… but given his role within the party, and the identity and affiliations of the companions concerned, his reaction was quite frankly absurd.
Dustmongering In June 2006, Labour top brass travelled to Dubai with party benefactors from the building industry. MPs Charles Mangion and Charles Buhagiar were already in partnership with their mates Carmelo Penza, Denis Baldacchino, Ray Vella and Patrick Dalli, the four businessmen who travelled with them on a business recce to the UAE. Before the construction dust could even settle, it was revealed that Labour MPs had firm business partnerships with these top contractors.
Watership down
Environment minister George Pullicino saw his own holiday run aground, literally, when a yachting trip had to be cancelled after the vessel was rammed into a reef by its drunken skipper. Accompanying him were seafaring seadogs Charles Azzopardi, the tuna magnate who operates the largest ranch in Malta and beyond, and former MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja. Since both men were targeted by the environmental lobbies, clearly not everything was ship-shape for Cap’n Pullicino.
Speed pays Joe Fenech Conti, a director of Datatrak which processes speed camera fines, served as chairman of the Malta Transport Authority (ADT) board which oversees the building and maintenance of roads and takes decisions on the location of speed cameras. Conflict of interest? Fenech Conti admits he is uncomfortable with his position after being outed on One TV. Minister Austin Gatt declares that “a conflict of interest in and of itself does not preclude someone from serving office” in yet another bull on his papal infallibility.
Roadhogs In 2007, roads minister Jesmond Mugliett denied any kind of relationship with his professional partner, architect Robert Sant (both of them were partners in Sant & Mugliett) whose company was awarded the project management on the re-building of the Manwel Dimech Bridge. “The only connection I have with Sant is in a company which merely owns property, as against what many Labour MPs have, who have companies together with contractors.” Mugliett’s retainer from his partnership was €10,000 a year.
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