The party financing legislation implemented under a Labour government specifies that political parties, candidates, members of parliament and ministers must declare every income or donation that they receive for their campaign or their political work to the Electoral Commission, Deputy Prime Minister and Minsiter for Health Chris Fearne said on Tuesday.
In a documentary on French television last Sunday, businessman Luke Chetcuti was heard saying: “Last week I was having dinner with Chris (Cardona), the Minister for the Economy. And he texted the Tourism Minister saying: we must help the Chetcuti family. They have always helped us. The other minister replied saying the beach was quite small but he would see what he would do, if it could be enlarged.”
The beach being referred to is St George’s Bay, in St Julian’s, which is already partly occupied by another hotelier.
Fearne was answering questions by The Malta Independent as to how the Chetcuti family had “helped” the Labour Party after Luke Chetcuti’s comments sparked uproar.
Fearne insisted that he never received money from Luke Chetcuti or from his late father, Hugo.
“As for the Labour Party – yesterday (after the broadcasting of the documentary), as deputy leader of the party, I asked the [Labour Party] CEO as to whether we have ever had to report any donations from the Chetcutis, and, from what he told me, we have never had to report any income from either Hugo, or Luke Chetcuti.”
Fearne said that the Labour Party had declared to the Electoral Commission that they had received no donations from these individuals.
“I ask that you ask the Nationalist Party to make this same declaration, as I have,” Fearne said.
The Standards Commissioner has been asked to investigate what Luke Chetcuti was heard saying by independent MP Arnold Cassola, who said that the words said show an attempt to influence the minister, Cardona, who in turn informed a second minister, Konrad Mizzi, about the request.
Minister Konrad Mizzi
Replying to questions sent by email, a spokesperson for the Tourism Ministry said that “the suggestions made by the French documentary are a gross mischaracterization of the work of the Ministry of Tourism”.
“Any suggestion of impropriety or personal interest is being strongly rejected. It is also to be noted that the Ministry for Tourism does not award land concessions, which are instead governed by the Lands Authority.”
Asked by this newspaper, the Minister did not confirm, nor deny, receiving any texts from Minister Cardona in relation to the beach concession.
He also did not confirm, nor deny, having met or sent a representative to meet Luke Chetcuti to discuss the beach concession.
This newspaper also didn’t receive a reply as to whether, or how, the Chetcuti family has helped the Labour Party.
Chetcuti Cauchi law firm
In another development following the broadcasting of the documentary, law firm Chetcuti Cauchi had its licence to act as an agent for Malta’s citizenship by investment scheme suspended after one of its representatives was recorded boasting about his close connection to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship, Julia Farrugia Portelli.
When this newspaper reached out to the Parliamentary Secretary, a spokesperson said that the Regulator for the IIP scheme has been asked to review each and every file relating to the company.
“The immediate action taken shows that procedures are in place and that such misleading statement will not be accepted.“
“As publicly stated, the MIIPA has immediately suspended the license of this particular agent. The Regulator has been asked to review all the files submitted by the agent, and all applications have been put on hold. Further decisions may be taken, based on the findings of these investigations.
“Due process will, of course, be followed.”
Farrugia Portelli did not rule out taking legal action to safeguard her interests, but would not go further at this stage.
It is not known whether the police are investigating.
Questions sent to Minister Chris Cardona were not answered at the time of publishing.