RCC | The man with an obsession for detail

At the centre of power for just under three decades, Richard Cachia Caruana served Eddie Fenech Adami from 1987 as his personal assistant and also piloted his policies and possibly influenced them. Later in 2004, he would head Malta's permanent representation to the EU right up until he was deposed by a vote of no-confidence carried by the Labour Opposition with the help of disgruntled Nationalist backbenchers.

He was renowned for his work ethic, dedication, bad temper, obsession with detail and a controlling attitude. These notes featured for the very first time by MaltaToday confirm that perception. 

To this day, the motive of the assassination attempt he survived in 1994 remains shrouded in mystery. But apart from the controversy that surrounded him, he remains better known for his sterling role in the negotiations for EU accession.

Beyond his EU role, Cachia Caruana was the great strategist of the Nationalist Party, involved at the top in the political machinations and campaign strategy before national elections.

He was also accused of being at the heart of leading news stories against 'opponents' within the party - an allegation he vehemently rejected. He was criticised for never showing a face to the 'undeclared' campaigns against dissidents or party critics.

Cachia Caruana was greatly disappointed when Lawrence Gonzi opted for John Dalli as Malta's choice for European Commissioner. He retained his position as Permanent Representative in Brussels until parliament voted him out in a vote of no confidence in the summer of 2012.

The unprecedented vote, clinched thanks to Nationalist backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, was a serious blow to Cachia Caruana and Gonzi.

These documents, written and transcribed by his secretariat, offer a glimpse into Cachia Caruana's modus operandi, and reveal the extent of Cachia Caruana's obsession with detail and his daily routine. Future installations of these revelations will also show who orbited in the circles of the eminence grise of Maltese politics.

Notes from inside Castille | Part 1

The document is being published in its entirety.

OFFICE DUTIES CARRIED OUT BY THE ASSISTANT TO THE PRIVATE SECRETARY

Before Mr Richard Cachia Caruana comes to the office every morning his office must be checked for:

1. STATIONERY

 Check office to ensure that:

A. On his desk (facing the wall) in the WHITE TRAY he should have:

• 2 sharpened pencils
• one of each colour ball pens (blue, red and black)
• one of each colour highlighters (yellow, green and pink)
• pins (not too many - fill up section in white tray only)
• paper clips (not too many - fill up section in white tray only)
• HIS fountain pen (black Parker pen) is full with ink. On a Monday this is to be sent to Cabinet together with a note pad (when Cabinet is at Castille).
• rubber

B. On his desk (facing the wall)

• yellow stickies (one of each size)
• ITC pens are writing legibly
• staplers are full
• Fountain pens in blue velvet box are full with ink.
• Ball pen in blue velvet box is writing legibly.

C. Printer and Fax

 · check whether there is enough paper in the printer and fax machine if not fill them in.  Paper can be found under the printer in the second drawer.

• Always make sure that in the drawer there is at least more than half the packet of paper if not fill in packet. Also ensure that there are enough letter heads in the drawers
• under the printer on the shelf there should be 6 note pads

D. Big table in Mr Cachia Caruana's Office

At the head of table (under window) there should be a ball pen and a note pad

E. Board Room

At the head of table or at the center of the table or wherever the chair with the arm chair is there should be ball pen and a note pad together with the messengers' bell, cordless telephone (whenever there is a Core Negotiating Group meeting) and the AC remote control.

F.     Appointments, Previews and Telephone List

• DESK First collect copies left on Mr Cachia Caruana's desk from the day before, update and THEN replace on Mr Cachia Caruana's desk.
• TELEPHONE LIST to be updated on Mr Cachia Caruana's on his desk by his private secretary and in her absence by her assistant.
• APPOINTMENTS copy is given to Richard's private secretary and her assistant, Peter, Tony, Dominique, Francis, and Carmen. Only Richard's private secretary and her assistant take the full version while the others are given a censored version ie NO PERSONAL APPOINTMENTS. Colin Scicluna, Charles Inguanez, Graziella Pullicino and Claudine Attard are given those appointments which have to do with EU but shoul be aware when Richard is in a meeting.
• CAR Always send a copy of the day's appointments, the following day's appointments and attachments Prime Minister's and PA to PM's attachments in green plastic folder, preview and telephone list (from Richard's private secretary) in the car in the afternoon before leaving the office. The envelope should be marked PERSONAL on the right hand top corner and on the left hand bottom corner * Appointments and attachments (PA to PM's attachments and for what they are for eg Thursday 11 August at 1300 hrs lunch hosted by Amb Kathryn Proffitt), * Preview (clipped with a big paper clip) and * Telephone list.

2. LIST OF APPOINMENTS AND PREVIEW

• Write out the day's appointments to be held at Castille and Parliament ONLY and hand it to the Chief Messenger indicating where the visitors should be escorted: board room or Ambassadors Room (vide diary schedule). Do not write down INTERNAL staff meetings, or meetings OUTSIDE the office. If there are no appointments kindly inform the Chief Messengers. THIS LIST MUST BE PASSED ON TO THE CHIEF MESSENGER IN THE MORNING SO HE CAN PLAN/ALLOCATE HIS STAFF ACCORDINGLY.

To find Daily appointments, Preview go to:

Data > Elaine > Appointc > Appointments and Preview > Appts Mon > previewrcc.doc > The telephone list is found in Appointc

 · PM appointments are typed in normal text

• PM & PA to PM appointments are typed in italics
• PA to PM only are typed in bold and italics
• Any details which do not appear in the Prime Minister appointments of preview are to be typed in bold an italics.

3. TRAVELLING

When Richard is traveling either alone or with the Prime Minister an envelope with stationery is prepared.  The envelope is given to Victor Cassar who decides whether Richard is to take it with him or not.

4. APPOINMENTS & ATTACHMENTS

Since these change very often in the course of the day we end up with many copies.  People to whom the appointments are distributed are to be given a copy every time that there is a change.  We only keep one copy of every time we print the appointments. When filing ALWAYS keep the copy with Richard's comment if for example you  have three of the same date and time. These are always filed but never thrown away.

5. PREVIEW & TELEPHONE LISTS

Even these change very often and here again we keep one copy of every time we print them. For filing we follow the same procedure as for the appointments but we then keep of the last three months. These are only given to Richard, his private secretary and her assistant.

6. FILING

Personal filing and trip filing are filed by the Richard's private secretary's assistant. Such file are kept in the steel drawers marked B. Keys are kept in a box in the middle drawer of the Richard's private secretary's desk.  Some of the files are redded other are not. Richard's private secretary or her assistant decide where Richard's personal filing is filed from the list of files.  Papers for trip files are to be passed for filing by either Myriam or Ruth.

The list of Richard's personal or trip files can be found in Data > Elaine > INDEX TO FILES