Investment, Industry and IT Minister Austin Gatt said that Opposition Leader Alfred Sant held a press conference in front of the Broadcasting Authority to threaten the PBS journalists with serious consequences if these do not do their job as he wants them to.
In a statement, Dr Gatt said that Dr Sant’s actions were a threat to the independent journalists working at PBS and pointed out that he chose to do it now because a general election is close.
Dr Sant himself had pushed to have journalists fired if they reported something in a way he did not like. Furthermore, added Dr Gatt, there were consistent episodes where Dr Sant refused to speak to the press or answer their questions.
The minister also said that Dr Sant made several allegations regarding Dr Fenech’s appointment as newsroom manager of PBS, saying that it was illegal or going against the present collective agreement with PBS employees – “something that is not true”.
Dr Gatt said that managerial posts within PBS are not subject to any collective agreement and the law allows public entities to directly appoint people in delicate positions.
“The truth of the matter is that Dr Sant wanted this post to remain vacant until a lengthy selection process covering several months takes place – regardless of the fact that the person who occupied this post resigned on the eve of a general election,” said Dr Gatt.
The minister went on to say that Dr Sant wanted this to take place as he would be in a better position to intimidate and threaten journalists who would not have the protection of an editor.
Contrary to what Dr Sant implied at the press conference, no former PBS editor cited particular reasons for their resignation except for purely personal ones, such as finding a better-paid job.
Dr Gatt also pointed out that Mr Micallef, who was present during the press conference, used to work as a clerk at PBS and was appointed a few days before the 1987 general election without going through a selection process.
“The only justification for his appointment was a recommendation signed by the secretary of his uncle, who was a Labour Minister,” he said.