Economy Minister Chris Cardona denied that he asked Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi to help a Paceville entrepreneur to take over part of St George’s bay public beach.

Footage broadcast on French TV showed Luke Chetcuti, who runs the Hugo’s chain of bars, restaurants and hotels, boast about a conversation with Cardona about taking over part of the beach.

Chetcuti also claimed that during a meal, Cardona messaged Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi on the matter, telling him “they [Hugo’s] always help us and we have to get them part of the beach”.

When confronted by Times of Malta on Friday, Cardona insisted he did not message Mizzi.

“No, not at all, no, no…,” he said.

Pressed to say whether he had intervened to help the Paceville chain attempt to take over part of the public beach, Cardona was adamant he did not.

As the Economy Minister, he said, he “meets up with businessmen all the time”.

On whether Chetcuti had requested part of St George’s bay beach during any of these meetings, Cardona would not say.

“I will not comment on individual ideas and thoughts of businessmen,” he said.

“It is done privately and confidentially and I will keep the privacy and confidentiality of entrepreneurs.”