Like everyone else of employable age, and being a hard working professional, one is frequently offered advancement possibilities in his/her working career. Some people call it headhunting, which is exactly what happened in my case.

Actually, to be precise, there were four different job offers, all equally very enticing, and one or two were offered to me in the earlier months of my employment at the Authority, which I had ignored.

However, as I was approaching the end of my term of office, I felt that out of common courtesy and loyalty to the Minister, it was more than just correct of me to share this consideration with my friend the Minister, being the person responsible for ADT and who was so delighted at acquiring my services, two-and-a-half years ago. At this point, the Minister had agreed with me that unless my decision was supported with an official written resignation, business would be as usual and no resignation was being considered as such. In point of fact, Minister Mugliett had on three separate occasions, asked me to stay on, at least until the election, or until my term expired. Out of loyalty and respect for him and knowing also that some unfinished projects were in hand, I reconsidered and decided to stay on. I am sure the Minister will confirm this.

However, this must have ruffled some feathers and some ensuing events made me realise that after all I should be more objective and think of my own family and future. And this is what I happily did. Therefore the reasons and timing of my departure were my own personal choice and no one else’s.

Your source implied that I spitefully contacted The Times because I was offended about some events. Totally untrue. I never gave an interview to The Times. If you were to check with your counterparts at The Times, you will find out who contacted who, and there are e-mail exchanges to prove all this. I never stopped performing my duty as a public officer at any time during my appointment. Thus I find it hard to understand why you chose not to verify your source before publicising “your” story.

Finally, may I emphasise that I have worked very hard at ADT trying to instil in my colleagues a much-needed sense of duty with a public focus, but most importantly, establish accountability. Always with professional honesty and a high moral ground.

If you had to speak to all the external and internal stakeholders they would all confirm my professional integrity.

May I please remind you that I am now no longer a public officer, and as a good friend would say, “end of story”.

Gianfranco Selvaggi