Minister does not remember whether MCA chairman submitted ‘forced resignation’

In a heated debate in Parliament, minister Chris Cardona and the Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil, exchanged angry words over whether the former Malta Communications Authority chairman Antonio Ghio resigned voluntarily or not.

In reply to a Parliamentary question by Nationalist MP Claudio Grech, Cardona explained that Ghio resigned out of his own will and the government accepted his resignation.

However asked whether Ghio was asked to resign, Cardona said that he did "not remember" whether Ghio used the term "forced resignation" when the latter submitted his resignation letter.

"If that was the term used I do not have it in my file. There were hundreds of resignations but I can confirm that the chairman's resignation was accepted by the government."

In his resignation letter in possession of MaltaToday, Ghio wrote: "Whilst there is no doubt in my mind, as further explained below, that no resignation from my present post has to be tabled, I am herby, as requested, offering my forced resignation from Chairman of the Malta Communications Authority."

Quoting Maltese and EU laws regulating national authorities responsible for communications, Ghio added: "It is clear that your requests as per the letter dated 12th March 2013 do not fall within and are not reflected in the national and European provisions regulating the Maltese regulatory authority responsible for electronic communications."  

Cardona also failed to answer whether Ghio's resignation was in line with EU regulations.

However, Cardona than said that Ghio was asked to resign by the permanent secretary, although a few minutes later he said that he only learnt of the permanent secretary's letter during this evening's heated debate.

"If I remember well, the chairman's name was Ghio, and he was asked to resign by the former permanent secretary and  the chairman resigned voluntarily."

Answering a question by Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil on whether the former permanent secretary sent a letter to Ghio on 12 March asking him to resign, Cardona said: "The government did not send a letter to the chairman asking him to resign, because the letter was sent by the permanent secretary appointed by the previous administration at a time when the Labour government was not yet appointed."

On hearing this, Busuttil said: "This is a very serious matter and I ask you Mr Speaker to defend Parliament and guarantee that the government does not mislead the House of Parliament. The minister's answer is incorrect."

Insisting that he was not misleading Parliament, Cardona said: "12 March date followed the 9 March election when a Labour government was voted in office. The answer is correct and I ask the Leader of the Opposition to retract his allegations."

After PN whip David Agius quoted Ghio's resignation letter in which he points out that John Gatt, the former permanent secretary in the communication, transport and infrastructure ministry in altter dated 12 March he demanded Ghio to resign, the former Labour whip and current transport minister Joe Mizzi vociferously demanded Agius to table the document.

On hearing this, Opposition whip David Agius retorted: "We are so open that we will table the document, however I must remind that this information was requested by the Opposition however the government failed to produce the requested information."

Following a brief moment of silence allowing the Parliament staff to photocopy the letter, Cardona read the letter in which the permanent secretary asked Ghio to resign.

While saying that he had only learn of the letter today, Cardona said that the letter confirmed that Ghio was asked to resign as was the custom after a change in government.