PBS CEO Anton Attard today said he discusses programmes on PBS with the Home Affairs Chief of Staff Silvio Scerri because Mr Scerri "knows the medium."
Mr Attard was testifiying in front of the Employment Commission in a case in which former TV Hemm presenter Norman Vella is claiming that he was dismissed from PBS due to political discrimination.
Mr Attard said that similiar discussions did not take place with Brian Magro, the chief of staff responsible for PBS under the previous administration due to his "lack of knowledge" about such affairs.
The PBS CEO initially said that his only contact with the Home Affairs Ministry is with the permanent secretary Kevin Mahoney, but he later admitted to having conversations with Mr Scerri.
(Norman Vella)
Mr Attard described Mr Vella as a "competent producer and presenter" who producer a number of programmes "which in my opinion were good."
Mr Attard said the editiorial board had mixed opinion abouts Mr Vella, "as is the norm with other presenters."
He said two formal complaints were received about Mr Vella's programme. One was filed by then PN MP Franco Debono who was a guest on the programme, and another complaint was filed by the Nationalist Party about the same programme that Dr Debono was a guest on.
(Silvio Scerri)
Mr Attard said it was not his choice whether Mr Vella would be retained or not, as this decision fell to the editorial board on which he is a non-voting member.
"The view was that there should be different programmes with different people. I was not asked to give any recommendations or opinions on TV Hemm."
Mr Attard received an email from the Home Affairs permanent secretary on 20 May 2013, in which Mr Mahoney asked when TV Hemm was set to finish.
He said he never head that Silvio Scerri wanted to get rid of Mr Vella.
Mr Attard said that principle permanent secretary Mario Cutajar requested that Mr Vella's secondment to PBS be revoked.
The PBS CEO said that there are less people working for the PBS newsroom now than there were under the Nationalist government.
Asked by Andrew Borg Cardona about journalists Brendon Pisani, Rodney Vassallo and Dorothy Falzon, Mr Attard said they had all been employed by PBS following a public call and previously worked with One TV. Asked about Norma Saliba, he said she was seconded from MEUSEC at the request of the head of news.
He was also asked about Charles Sacco and Owen Galea, who were responsible for the TVM website. Mr Attard said Mr Galea used to work with Inews. He did not know about Mr Sacco.
Mr Attard's testimony will continue on 20 January.