Investments, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt yesterday replied to the comments made in reaction to the resignation of the editorial board chairman, and his reaction to that resignation.

Dr Gatt said the former chairman of the editorial board, and the board’s members appeared to want to explain to the government the policy it had drawn up, so much so that the former chairman had said the minister did not know how to read English.

Dr Gatt said the policy was that when it came to a choice of programmes, the policy was that the editorial board drew up a list of recommendations, but the final decision lay with the board of directors.

The many things said about full or partial schedules, consultations and other “ridiculous” things were intended only to obscure one fact, which was that the editorial board pretended it had a veto over the choice of programmes.

This pretension was not according to the government’s policy. And it was the government that formulated policies, not the boards it appointed. Dr Gatt said those ready to serve on boards had to accept and implement that policy, or resign.

He added he had always explained the policy to be followed, and had also laid it out when incidents had arisen with the preceding chairman. But it seemed it served no good.