‘No comment’ on Labour censure – BA chairman Anthony Tabone

Tabone was appointed last week to the broadcasting regulator’s chairmanship last week following a controversial move by Government whereby it forged ahead with the appointment despite resistance by the Opposition.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Tabone would only answer “no comment” when asked how he felt about taking up duties as chairperson of Malta’s broadcasting regulator without the support of the Labour party.

Tabone answered similarly to questions about whether he had any reaction to statements by Labour leader Joseph Muscat on how he had “no faith in (him)”.  “Its not that I have no position,” Tabone said when probed further by MaltaToday on what he thought of Labour’s criticism, “I simply have no comment to make.”

Shortly after the announcement of Tabone’s appointment, the Labour Party came out condemning the appointment, expressing disappointment that agreement between it and Nationalist Party had not been reached over whom should be appointment as BA’s chairperson.

“Anthony Tabone will be chairman of the Broadcasting Authority in an upcoming divorce referendum in May, during local council elections and the general elections,” Muscat said during a party activity last Sunday. “In order to chair the elections one has to show and be completely impartial.”

Muscat claimed that in the run-up to the EU referendum, Tabone had refused to Labour party a number of TV slots “in a very delicate time”, something that the PL had taken the Broadcasting Authority to court over.

Muscat also recalled how there was agreement over the selection of appointees to the positions of Ombudsman, Auditor General, and claimed that the appointment is a “dirty trick” that is paving the way for the coming election.

Asked for its interpretation of the principle of “consultation”, the Office of the Prime Minister said that this involves “The Prime Minister puts forward his views to the Leader of the Opposition asking for his reactions. 

“These reactions are then taken into consideration by the Prime Minister in exercising his constitutional duty to advise the President in accordance with Article 118(2) of the Constitution,” the OPM added.

Asked specifically how was this consultative principle applied with regard to the appoiutment of the new BA chairperson, the OPM maintained it had nothing further to add.

Tabone was appointed last week by President George Abela upon recommendation by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi following consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Muscat, a statement by the Department of Information said.

Between 2000 and 2003 Tabone served as Chairman of the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd, during which time he was responsible for a number of changes within the State Broadcasting Station.  

Tabone has occupied a number of senior management posts within the Farsons Group for the last 40 years. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Farsons Beverage Import Co Ltd and a Business and Marketing Consultant within the Group.

He is an Officer of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry and has also served as Vice-President of the Malta Federation of Industry and has held the post of President of the Malta Trade fairs Corporation.  He currently represents The Malta Chamber on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

Tabone is a member of the Council of the University of Malta, the Malta Council for Science and Technology and Chairman of the Selection Board of the Worker of the Year National Award.

He has acted as consultant on a number of communication campaigns linked to projects funded by the European Union including the Climate Change Campaign and the “For Diveristy Against Discrimination” Campaign.