The Public Broadcasting Services has filed a judicial protest against Grace Borg and Andrea Milana, over a management rights’ dispute with Thea Garrett and her parents.
On Friday, the First Hall of the Civil Court issued an €18,000 garnishee order against Thea Garrett – freezing her bank account and sponsors, after Grace Borg and Andrea Milana filed a writ for damages against PBS and any interests Thea Garrett may have.
Thea, Malta’s representative in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo, is due to perform in the first semi-final today week. She held her first rehearsal at the Telenor Arena yesterday morning and the official Eurovision Song Contest Website said: “Thea Garrett gave an assured, confident and polished performance of her entry My Dream”.
Meanwhile though, PBS learned that Grace Borg and Andrea Milana have written to the European Broadcasting Union exerting pressure to stop Thea’s participation and therefore, Malta’s entry in the Eurovision Song Festival, the protest said.
Malta’s participation costs nearly €400,000, the protest said, and PBS is holding Grace Borg and Andrea Milana responsible for damages. The protest therefore called for Grace Borg and Andrea Milana immediately to refrain from any action against Malta’s presence in the Eurovision.
The only interest PBS had was to see Malta’s successful participation in the contest. Yet, Ms Borg and her partner were endangering Malta’s participation in the contest and Malta’s reputation in the competition, with evident damage.
PBS explained that last November, Grace Borg was appointed Thea’s manager following an agreement her parents signed before she turned 18. After winning the Malta Song Festival, PBS signed a contract with Thea regarding her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, in which it was guaranteed that she had nothing impeding her participation.
This was not a management contract, PBS specified and further explained it is not acting as her manager.
Subsequently, Grace Borg and Andrea Milana believed they still had a binding agreement with Thea, even though her parents wished to terminate the agreement, and informed Ms Borg by means of a letter last January.
Grace Borg and Andrea Milana said Thea was responsible for damages their company sustained by breaching the management agreement. PBS was also implied in this responsibility because the partners believed Thea could not participate in the contest if not through Grace Borg.
PBS noted that it in no way interfered in issues between Thea and Grace Borg. Moreover, it tried to mediate matters with the aim of reaching an amicable agreement, to no avail.
PBS concluded its protest by reserving the right to take further judicial action.
Lawyers John and Joseph Refalo signed the protest.