Thursday, November 29, 2018

At no point does the NAO report show a failure by Konrad Mizzi – Robert Abela

PL MP Robert Abela said today that at no point does the National Audit Office report regarding the Electrogas contracts show a failure on Minister Konrad Mizzi's behalf.

He was addressing a press conference together with Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg, where they repeated government's position on the matter.

This newsroom said that government and the PL keep downplaying the issues brought up by the National Audit Office on these contracts, and highlighted, as examples, the State Bank Guarantee where the AG found serious reservations, and that  the NAO  also found serious due diligence issues in the request for proposals.

PL MP Robert Abela denied that there was a situation of downplaying. He said that there were no laws with regards to making such guarantees. He said that in 2017, a year prior to this report, government published a law which regulated similar situations. He said that the government had been proactive and did not wait for the NAO report.

He said that the guarantee was released as the project was implemented successfully. He highlighted that government earned €11 million in administrative charges for giving that guarantee.

Infrastructure Minister Ian Borg said that the European Commission had said there was no state aid in this, and that the project was in line with all local and EU regulations.

This newsroom asked how they could continue to defend Konrad Mizzi after years of being in the spotlight negatively. They were also asked whether they believe this situation will affect them given that their reputations are now tied to Mizzi.

Abela said that it is not a question of defending or not defending Konrad Mizzi. At no point does this report show a failure on Konrad Mizzi's behalf. "I think it is a certificate in terms of how things occurred. One must give credit to Minister Mizzi who was integrally involved in this process."

Minister Ian Borg said that the Prime Minister was always consistent in his position and always took decisions when inquiries concluded.  In a particular case of a minister, he said, he waited a number of months until the Auditor General issued his report. He said two ministers have paid the political price and both regained the trust of the people and of the Prime Minister and are back in cabinet.

He said that one cannot anticipate what the inquiry results will be.

He said that Minister Mizzi not only made a turnaround in Enemalta's case, but also in Air Malta.

This newsroom highlighted that one of the pertinent inquiries in this regard has not yet started and is being stalled through appeals.

Minister Borg said that one cannot, under the law, take someone to court and not allow them to make use of the same laws to appeal if they don't agree with a decision.

He said that the delays were brought about because PN MP Simon Busuttil did not like the Judge who was to preside over the appeal, Judge Antonio Mizzi.

He said that one cannot say there is no process. He also said that government cannot just stay on the allegations, highlighting that in relation to these situations, some papers began losing libel suits. "We need to be responsible and await the magisterial inquiry."



from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2Q5Kkyl
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