.png)
Civil service head, IAID board to look into Schembri’s casino role
Principal Permanent Secretary says IAID chief has asked IAID board to look into MaltaToday reports.
14 November 2012, 12:00am
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
Cabinet secretary and principal permanent secretary Godwin Grima.
Reports by MaltaToday showing an undeclared private business activity was conducted by a top permanent secretary from the offices of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department, are to be referred to the supervisory board of the IAID.
Godwin Grima, the Principal Permanent Secretary, yesterday told MaltaToday that IAID chief Rita Schembri had asked him, as chairman of the Internal Audit and Investigations board, "to refer the recent media reports about her to the Board for its immediate attention."
The reports concern correspondence provided by a whistleblower which suggest a breach of the public service management code's code of ethics after Schembri used her IAID office for meetings to discuss a 60% acquisition in the Casinò di Venezia, of Birgu.
The board, chaired by Grima but which of which Schembri is also a member, acts as the conduit between Cabinet and the IAID and is appointed by the prime minister. Apart from Grima, and Schembri as IAID head, the board includes the permanent secretary in the finance ministry, and two other members.
No further information was available on what sort of scrutiny the board will be carrying out on the newspaper reports concerning Rita Schembri.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on Monday declared it will be the responsibility of Godwin Grima to evaluate the alleged breach of ethics.
"This is something for the head of the civil service to evaluate, to carry out his own analysis and come to his own conclusion," Gonzi told MaltaToday after this newspaper revealed correspondence that confirms Schembri used her government office at Valletta Buildings, on South Street in Valletta, to discuss an investment proposal by Far East Entertainment Group plc to acquire a 60% stake in the Casinò di Venezia.
Apart from using the IAID offices for a private business affair, Schembri's relations with the FEE Group and their interest in the Birgu casino did not have the official approval of principal permanent secretary Godwin Grima.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
•
Just to put some context for the story - Casino the Venezia had their license suspended after MaltaToday had revealed that something inappropriate had taken place in relation to Italy's world cup victory (feel free to think orgy is implied here). Lotteries and Gaming Authority under the spotless leadership of Mario Galea, did not do anything at first until the public revelations forced him to take action.
Officials at the LGA have complained about Casino de Venezia ignoring them or even operating without illegally - with the chairman of the LGA also representing casino De venezia, they could not do anything.
People in the know speak openly as Casino De Venezia being a brothel as much as a Casino. Its generally accepted that the casino is run from Sicily.
•
Why is it that every time we see a photo of Dr Grima, he is always using his mobile phone? Dr Grima may I suggest you get someone to draw-up a report for your consumption on the hazards of mobile telephony.
•
IAID Board:
Godwin Grima - indirectly involved
Rita Schembri - subject
Alfred Camilleri - Perm Sec Min of Finance (his boss is Godwin Grima)
Marlene Bonnici - replaced RCC
Daniel Darmanin - ex University Professor
It is evident that this is not a matter for the IAID's own Board, but at such delicate office, it should be a magistrate or retired judge
•
The Perm Sec sits on the board, Schembri sits on the board...is this a farce..is anybody AT ALL going to be expected to swallow this one? How are they going to investigate? Will they be going through the files of the department or just relying entirely on her "promise sir I didn't do it?" These people (auditors tal Gvern) come around Government offices full of themselves and asking all sorts of questions...what cheek? Hawn xi hadd jisthi f'dal-pajjiz jew????
•
One needs to look into, and potentially slap on the wrist, Grima's conduct in the issue of allowing the top Government internal auditor to sit on a private sector Board with businessman potentially vying for Government contracts and/or property. Unheard of! Public/private partnerships are fine, but the Government's auditor should always remain aloof.
