PL’s turn for investigations on Bateman issues, says Gonzi

Interviewed by journalist Mark Azzopardi on  Radio 101, Gonzi spoke about the statements made by the Auditor General as a witness before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). He said the Auditor General spent a year compiling the report, which in the end proved that there is no evidence of corruption.

“Even after the Auditor General’s report, the controversy kept circulating, so we made a categorical decision to clear the waters and show the process was transparent,” Gonzi said. “He was questioned before the PAC and he made his statements viva voce, which proved the opposition’s corruption statements were simply smoke without a foundation.”

“It now appears that, after attacking us for a whole year, the PAC should investigate the PL with regard to the contact they sustained with Bateman, which was considered to be the worst option for the power station extension,” Gonzi said.

Before the issue is wrapped up with the Auditor General, Gonzi said that two issues have yet to be dealt with. “In the report, it emerged that some witnesses did not cooperate- this has to be investigated so Enemalta employees and other witnesses will be called, as well as the issues with Bateman.”

“The PAC is not the court or police, they observe public accounts. Thanks to the Auditor General’s report, all of the opposition’s bubbles have burst in their faces,” he said.

Gonzi said the increase in salaries of MPs should not come as a surprise, as it was mentioned at the beginning of the legislature, and is not ill-timed but “justified in these circumstances.”

He said the reasons behind the increase in salaries are straightforward- “Before, a professional- doctor, lawyer and others- had to stop their career to become an MP, and professionals who became ministers and parliamentary secretaries lost everything,” he said. “There was a conflict that was unfair, and we made it clear at the beginning of the legislature that the honorarium of MPs needed to be reviewed.”

“When the career of an MP as an MP ends, and they no longer lead a life in politics, it will be difficult for them to return to their lives as they were before when they had a pay with certain conditions,” he said. “We wanted to try and cushion that transition as much as possible…also who is elected to parliament should be compensated for the services they provide.”