PL confirms no employees are paid by third parties, PN fails to answer questions
The Labour Party (PL) has confirmed that there are no employees within its ranks that are paid by any business persons or third parties when answering questions by The Malta Independent. The Nationalist Party (PN) was sent the same set of questions, primarily asking how many employees within its ranks are paid by anybody other than the party itself, however it failed to acknowledge the questions or reply.
Questions sent to both political parties came in the wake of claims that PN executive secretary Rosette Thake and CEO Brian St John were being paid by db Group, whose 100 per cent shareholding belongs to
another company, which belongs to businessman Silvio Debono, known for owning the Seabank Hotel.
While ignoring the set of questions sent by this newsroom, the PN issued a statement where it “categorically denied” that Ms Thake and Mr St John had been paid via donations sent by Mr Debono, saying that in 2016 his company donated some €3,500.
The revelations regarding Ms Thake and Mr St John were made after Guido de Marco & Associates renounced its brief as advisors to db Group in relation to the St George’s Bay project. PN deputy leader Mario de Marco, as a lawyer within Guido de Marco & Associates, had come under fire for denying any involvement in negotiations with db Group and the government over the St George’s Bay land concession, when 24 hours later it was announced that the law firm was denouncing any involvement with the brief.
The PN had been highly critical of the way db Group acquired the land, which formerly held the Institute of Tourism Studies school, in order to develop a €300 million hotel as well as luxury apartments. The concession was awarded to db Group, whom Mr Debono is chairman, for €60 million. This led to a public uproar and criticism made by the PN over the price-tag attached for being far too low. Delloitte, rather than the government, valuated the land.
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday said that after announcing that the PN was asking the auditor general to investigate the ITS site contract, he had received a message that db Seabank was asking for the money the company had donated to the party back. The company later said it is paying for the salaries of the two PN officials.
In a press conference held yesterday, Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis and PL CEO Gino Cauchi said Dr Busuttil, who spoke about this issue during a PN fundraising marathon, did not say the whole truth.
Dr Zammit Lewis said it was a perfect opportunity for the Opposition Leader to speak out and give the full version of events, but it was DB group that issued a press statement in order for the whole truth to be made known.
The questions sent to both parties are as follows:
How many employees are there within your respective party who are being paid by anybody/ any entity/ businessperson outside of the party itself?
How many MPs do you have who sit on various boards in commercial companies and/or offer services to business people?
Will the party be asking any party employees/MPs outlined above to relinquish their roles in private commercial entities?
The PN had been highly critical of the way db Group acquired the land, which formerly held the Institute of Tourism Studies school, in order to develop a 300 million euros hotel as well as luxury apartments.