Tourism Minister leaves press event early to avoid journalists; hangs up on those who ring him

The Tourism Minister, who likes to be known as ED ZL, was invited to help celebrate Ryan Air’s 10th year in Malta today, by cutting a cake with the airline’s commercial director, David O’Brien.

But when he turned up and found the press waiting, assuming they were there to ask him not about Ryan Air but about Air Malta, Alitalia and Edward Banayoti, he sneaked out by a side door, leaving O’Brien to cut the cake alone after first exclaiming: “Has the Minister left already?”

Before slipping away, ED ZL called the Labour Party cameraman and reporter into a side room and gave them, in private, comments for consumption by Labour supporters on tonight’s ‘news’ bulletin.

Then when some journalists rang him to ask their questions anyway, he hit the red button.

Now he can go and file a report with the Institute of Maltese Journalists, saying that he’s being harassed and intimidated.