Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this afternoon told journalists that the decision on whether to sack PBS CEO John Bundy rests with PBS alone.
Muscat was speaking after a visit to HSBC bank in Zabbar.
Last week The Malta Independent reported that the PBS board was threatening to resign if Bundy was not removed. The former Net TV presenter was appointed to the helm of the national broadcaster in August of 2016.
But thing recently turned sour, with the board moving a no confidence motion in the CEO during a meeting that was held at the Arts Council. Bundy was not present.
The board alleged that Bundy had ignored it repeatedly, and took decisions without their approval. It also noted that, when it tried to change arbitrary decisions of the CEO, the directors were faced with legal threats against them and the company.
This newsroom was also told that in a board meeting that was held a few weeks ago at the PBS offices and for which Bundy was not called in, the board of directors had decided to remove the CEO power when it comes to procurement rights. This means that Bundy can't sign for anything that PBS purchases without the board's approval.
Sources said Bundy had begun asking for quotes to spend around €540,000 on leasing cars for the next eight years, instead of issuing a tender. In addition, sources said that Bundy had approved four programmes to be shot at TIMECARE studios instead of studios at PBS. Bundy used to have a programme shot at TIMECARE when he used to appear on ONE TV. The Board brought the number of programmes to be shot at TIMECARE studios down to two from four.
Asked whether Bundy should resign or be sacked, PM Muscat yesterday said this was a decision that had to be taken by the board. “They took the decision independently, and I was not made aware of it, neither before nor after.”
Asked what he would have done, personally, Muscat said: “They did not ask me for my opinion. Had they asked I would have told them what I would have done." He then rushed to his waiting car.
Ultimately, it is Justice and Culture Minister Owen Bonnici who has the power to dismiss Bundy from his PBS role.