The President of the PN Executive, Ann Fenech, has denied allegations made against her by Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis who claimed that she was given consultancies worth €600,000.
Dr Zammit Lewis had mentioned Dr Fenech no less than eight times when debating with PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami on last Friday’s edition of Xarabank. He also claimed that she was given these consultancies because she was the President of the Nationalist Party and not on the basis of merit. Dr Zammit Lewis also insisted that Ann Fenech had personally pocketed the €600,000.
In a letter sent to the minister, and copied to the media, Dr Fenech said Edward Zammit Lewis had misguided and misinformed the public.
She said she had never received any “consultancies” with any ministry. Fenech and Fenech Advocates is not her firm but she is merely a partner in the firm together with others.
During 2008 - 2012 the firm was appointed to carry out four privatisations related to the Malta Drydocks and Mr. Emanuel Ellul had called personally at the office of Dr. Fenech very early on stating that given the subject matter and her expertise in maritime sector he wanted to ensure that she was free to act for the Privatisation Unit rather than any of the other potential bidders in the process.
She had been appointed to assist the Attorney General in the action of the Commission v. Malta before the European Court of Justice relating to the public service obligation contract awarded to Gozo Channel which action Malta won with costs.
She had also been asked to conduct the informal maritime inquiry into the disappearance of the vessel Simshar resulting in the death of 4 persons.
“The work done during this 6 year period was done by 12 lawyers in total at Fenech and Fenech Advocates and that the fees charged for the work was not Euro 600,000 as claimed by the Minister but Euro 464,111. The fees were paid out to the firm and not to me personally.”
Dr Fenech also pointed out that she had become President of the executive committee of the Nationalist Party in June 2013 and during the period when the work was conducted she occupied no post whatsoever either official or unofficial within the party.
She highlighted the fact that the Minister was fully aware of her credentials in the Maritime sector which she listed including her election last year to the Executive Council of the Comite Maritime International, when for the first time since its inception in 1897, a Maltese person was elected to the post.
Dr. Fenech asked the Minister for an apology for attempting to tarnish her reputation.
Read the full letter here.