The Maltasong board yesterday reacted to what it called “serious allegations” made in public by Grace Borg when addressing a meeting by AKAM, the association for Maltese singers, authors and composers, which she herself heads.
Borg was addressing members of the association after the names of finalists for the Malta Song for Europe contest, which will choose the Maltese representative for the Eurovision Song Contest, had been announced.
Grace Borg has demanded to see the votes obtained by contestants who entered their songs for the Malta Song for Europe semi-finals. She also questioned the transparency of the selection process.
The board however said that the publication of the votes at this stage would not be prudent because it would influence public perception and consequently, the final televoting process. The board added that individual singers can request to know the votes they obtained once the festival is over.
The board said chairman John Demanuele will be asking the Commissioner of Police to initiate an investigation into Borg’s allegations. “The practice of casting vague accusations in the media without sustaining them is not only reprehensible, but dangerous, and can seriously undermine a process such as the forthcoming selection of the Malta Song for Europe, particularly during this sensitive period as the contestants are gearing up for the competition which is just over a week away, the statement added,” the board said.
“It is also perplexing how the selection procedure, announced in regulations published
as far back as September, and adhered to through each eliminatory phase, has only now been alleged to lack transparency,” Demanuele said.
“The Board observed that during the initial and second eliminatory phases, Ms Borg was only present at the selection venue when a particular song, penned by a foreign composer, was being performed. Since this song made it through the first phase but not the second, the Board can only conclude that this was the reason behind the timing of the statements made at the recent public gathering.”