Alan Camilleri's contract at ME not renewed for 'personal reasons'
Finance minister Tonio Fenech confirms that Malta Enterprise executive chairman's contract will not be renewed.
Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has confirmed that Malta Enterprise executive chairman Alan Camilleri has asked the ministry not to renew his contract which expires in mid-May. After several attempts were made to contact the minister, it was confirmed that a few weeks ago Camilleri expressed his desire not to have his contract renewed.
The controversial executive chairman of Malta Enterprise Alan Camilleri asked Finance Minister Tonio Fenech not to renew his contract which expires in mid-May, citing "personal reasons".
Contacted by MaltaToday, Camilleri said that he does not have time to answer questions regarding his position at Malta Enterprise and said that any questions should be sent "through the normal channels via e-mail".
Meanwhile, MaltaToday contacted the finance minister regarding the matter, however the minister said that he "does not have a minute to answer a question on Malta Enterprise" and said that the questions could be sent by email to his staff. Unlike other occasions, Fenech did not seem too keen to answer the question over the phone and duly, MaltaToday got in touch with a ministry's spokesperson.
At first, the ministry's spokesperson said he could not provide an answer "there and then" however he said that when a chairperson is replaced at one of the entities under the responsibility of the ministry, a press statement will be issued.
A few hours later, the ministry spokesperson contacted MaltaToday and said that "a few weeks ago, Alan Camilleri asked the minister not to renew his contract at Malta Enterprise, which expires in mid-May, for personal reasons."
Camilleri has been criticised by investors and other stakeholders for his performance as Malta Enterprise executive chairman.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Miller is being touted as a possible replacement at the helm of Malta Enterprise. Miller of the Miller Group of Companies and a major shareholder in the Maltese newspaper The Independent, would not comment when asked whether he will be the new executive chairman at ME.
On Wednesday, his own newspaper - The Independent - reported that Miller could be the next executive chairman. On the same day The Times, a competitor to The Independent, coincidentally carried a report highlighting reports on noise pollution at Millers's digital printing press in Luqa.
When asked what his plans for Malta Enterprise are, Miller said: "Who told you I will be chairman at Malta Enterprise?" Pressed to confirm or deny the reports of his possible appointment, Miller simply said: "No comment".
Miller has interests in printing presses in the UK, Italy and Cyprus and is widely respected in his field. He is also the managing director of the successful chain of Agenda bookshops.