Meritocracy update: they’ve even managed to drive out Josef Formosa Gauci
It’s bad enough that this government immediately set about removing truly competent people to replace them with Taghna Lkollers. What’s worse is that the few truly competent people who were kept on for one reason or another are finding it impossible to work in Taghna Lkoll conditions.
Malta Today reports that the Malta Tourism Authority chief, Josef Formosa Gauci, who has served in that capacity for years and has a good working relationship with industry stake-holders, has informed the new Tourism Minister – Edward Zammit Lewis, the prime minister’s best friend – that he is resigning.
I don’t know what the inside story is, but quite frankly, nobody civilised can work in that set-up. For a start, the Malta Tourism Authority has been forced – when this is a decision it should make itself – to give up A MILLION EUROS of its budget in the space of 12 months for those Joseph Calleja concerts.
What the government has done in funnelling all that money to NNG Promotions and Joseph Calleja for these summer concerts is remove the risk element from organising them. Organising any event carries a big element of risk: you have to put in the time, money and expenditure to set the whole thing up, but then it might be a real struggle to sell enough tickets to cover the cost, let alone make a profit.
It’s wrong of the government to pay for the concerts – it’s a throwback straight to Imperial Roman times and the free circuses given to the proletarian masses to stop them rioting with discontent – and it’s worse to force the Tourism Authority to give up such a large chunk of its budget which should be used to promote Malta to the tourism industry overseas.
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http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/41748/mta_chief_decides_to_call_it_a_day#.U9inXkBW_Ch
No wonder MHRA is SILENT on this matter as the latest news:
The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association (MHRA) president Paul Bugeja is the favourite to replace outgoing Malta Tourism Authority CEO Josef Formosa Gauci.
MaltaToday is informed that tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis has approached Bugeja – who already sits on the MTA board – to fill in the void left by the outgoing CEO.
In comments to MaltaToday, Bugeja could not confirm whether he would be appointed, however he said “discussions are ongoing, but nothing has been finalised yet.”
He said that government and the MTA were keeping their options open but said that due to commercially sensitive information, he wasn’t in a position to comment any further.
“Government is keen on filling in all the vacancies at MTA at the earliest,” Bugeja said, adding that the sooner the vacancies are filled the better for the industry.
Apart from heading the industry’s top lobby, Bugeja currently serves as the Corinthia group’s Chief Financial Officer.
Earlier, travel and tourism operators today thanked the outgoing CEO at the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Josef Formosa Gauci, “for his sterling contribution to the industry” and called on government to recommend to the MTA Board a possible successor in the shortest time possible.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/business/business_news/41996/paul_bugeja_touted_for_mta_top_job#.U-E2CVN03Dd
So MTA is to be run by an accountant – oh my God.
Josef Formosa Gauci was an accountant as well
Maybe the reason why the government is ploughing millions into NNG Promotions concerts is because Jonastan Zammit, ex PL election candidate, is a shareholder. TAGHNA LKOLL.
As is Anton Attard. Follow the money!
Apart from Jonston Zammit, the other NnG partners are Anton Attard, ex-head of PN media, current PBS CEO, friend of ‘Do you know who I am’ Silvio, and Joseph Calleja’s agent, as well as Nigel Camilleri, dentist, radio 101 presenter, and PN activist. We pay taxes and the more equal amongst the equals pillage the monies.
Daphne, JFG should have said no to the syphoning of these funds and not allowed it to happen and then step aside. Man of steel need balls irrespective of how strong a government is or how good our cultural ambassador is.
I do not know the details of the story or the person involved. However, you must keep in mind that in certain positions decisions are made and there is little one can do to change or to stop.
I have been in and seen several situations where managers and CEOs refuse to sign off a deal or the allocation of budget to be either waysides or forcibly removed so that things can go through.
It is not necessarily a question of being men or women of steel. It usually is a question of hard headed people who are pulling the purse strings who do not understand the inner workings of business and have already made up their mind irrespective.
Malta is replete with this form of untrained inexperienced and authoritarian management.
It is not the order of the day, it is the institution.
AGREED 100%, this is the reason why the MLP is doing what it pleases. Nobody has the spine to say NO immediately. This country is being bullied by its prime minister and before the country faces the bully, the bully will continue coming for more. As you said once, there are many man of straw.
In order to thrive in such a climate one must be capable of such statements: ‘Mr Dalli had said that some of his remarks were taken out of context, emphasising his position as firmly behind The European Commission President at the time.
The main point he was trying to make, he said, was strongly condemning any violence and that Mr Gaddafi should have followed the will of his people.’
The heading of the article is ‘I was proved right about Libya – John Dalli’
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-30/news/i-was-proved-right-about-libya-john-dalli-6020399104/
Of course sane people’s warning bells would signal incongruence and staying on the fence type play with words as well as re-writing of history. But since we are so good at crowds going mad collectively locally, what does sanity have to do with anything?
Duh. Thus spake the genius geostrategist John bloody Dalli. My pet goldfish knew there would be chaos after Gaddafi was removed. Except she doesn’t go around saying she was right, because when something is the bleeding obvious, knowing it doesn’t make you special.
Of such stuff is Maltese current affairs commentary made. I despair. And why in the name of heaven is anyone still seeking John Dalli’s opinion on anything? Even assuming he’s not a crook, he is still not Stephen Calleya or Ranier Fsadni.
Oh but they’re academics, so DO NOT DISTURB there.
Unfortunately our country will have to bear the brunt for the actions of the government.
They think that being in government is a game, they are more interested in how the look than in what they do.
Or rather, how much they can grab. I hope the next PN government will not be too softie with these plunderers as they were with Lorry Sant.
Joseph Calleja ghamel hazin li iccappas ma Joseph Muscat.
Issa qed jidher mod iehor minn hafna Maltin.
“What the government has done in funnelling all that money to NNG Promotions and Joseph Calleja for these summer concerts is remove the risk element from organising them. Organising any event carries a big element of risk: you have to put in the time, money and expenditure to set the whole thing up, but then it might be a real struggle to sell enough tickets to cover the cost, let alone make a profit.”
As I always say: some people have over there have it bloody good.
Everything is surreal in Maltimbabwe!!
“Coincidentally” this news has followed: http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-30/news/tourism-minister-does-not-rule-out-merging-mta-chairman-role-with-that-of-ceo-6021709825/
Everyone likes to lick as long as it is not a wound. Where there is money everything goes. Who cares if one party or the other is in power?
As things were done, are being done and it seems will be done, I am not going to vote in any forthcoming elections. I want to be a tourist now. I am a pensioner, living on my pension and my small amount of money I saved and Viva Chi Regna’
The Joseph Calleja concerts are the equivalent of the Romans’ panem et circenses.
On all counts , the more time passes I feel we have such an incompetent Government.. Povera Malta..
Panem at circensis. That was the panacea for keeping the plebei of the great Roman Empire happy. What followed was the downfall of this great empire.
What chance does puny Malta have of surviving in similar circumstances?
It seems that Joseph Calleja is Labour’s new Mary Spiteri.
Dear Daphne,
As a professional working in the tourism industry and with a little bit of knowledge of what is happening at the Malta Tourism Authority, I can assure you that the reason why Formosa Gauci resigned is far more serious than the Joseph Calleja concert or the diminishing budgets.
Zammit Lewis said that he is leaving all doors open for the time being and that the person replacing Formosa Gauci should be well considered and respected by all stakeholders.
I can assure you that the chairman Gavin Gulia is not respected within the industry If the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association had any balls or any real fighting spirit left, it would have raised the alarms two months ago.
That is when everyone knew that Josef Formosa Gauci was being pushed out of the MTA by the forces of Taghna Lkoll.
Formosa Gauci has been a very important person for the industry and he has managed to build a very good reputation not only for himself but for the whole Maltese tourism industry and for the image of Malta within the tourism sector.
I truly doubt Gavin Gulia has any clue of what the MTA’s priorities really are.
[Daphne – Yes, around two months ago I received information from two or three people telling me that he was being pushed out, but I couldn’t confirm it and so didn’t wish to say anything.]
Dear Daphne,
Did anyone notice that it was only a few days earlier that the Minister nominated the new Malta Tourism Authority board?
If you had to look at those sitting on this very sensitive and important board to lead our tourism industry, you will notice that it is made up of an ex-MTA employee and now running a hotel which is also represented on MHRA council, an ex-consultant to the same MTA and ex-President of MHRA, the President of the same MHRA who is said to be an accountant in one of the hotels (stand to be corrected on this), an ex-parliamentary secretary, an ex-secretary to the former minister of tourism and now representing English Language Schools – at least this section of tourism is still growing in numbers and contributing to our GDP, a representative of the Federation of travel agents, by right – a representative of Malta Airport who are surely an important stakeholders and last – an entrepreneur (???).
With due respect to the last one, on what credentials and what type of contribution can we expect on this essential board?
However, the new board seems to be made up of 3 persons from MHRA, who is very quiet on this issue.
Does one smell something here?
Any spokes in the wheels from this association?
Is there any connection between this association and the other one (hospitality executives association – if I am not wrong) who in January when Mr. Formosa Gauci was being back-stabbed on the labour news papers, stood up and was reported that its president called on government to “keep politics miles away from tourism”?
I believe that they knew what they were saying in January as they foresaw the onslaught of Mr. Formosa Gauci. But, who was involved in the back-stabbing?
How come MHRA is very silent? Any involvement?
Can you dig in and try to find the truth and keep us all informed?
Thank you Ms. Caruana Galizia in anticipation.
Another one bites the dust.
Josef Formosa Gauci is a true professional who produced results and never put politics into any of his decisions.
Unlike his chairman, soon to be also CEO, whose first comment upon being appointed was “Irid nehless min-Nazzjonalisti kollha.” God bless, what a profound thinker he is.
Ma tifilhux taqhu izjed ghan-nejk.
I have it from good sources that the MHRA are fighting tooth and nail to have another competent CEO who is experienced within the industry.
Zammit Lewis is extremely annoyed that Gulia is being pushed down his throat and it looks like he could be losing his influence on the choice of CEO.
Tough Eddy, now you know.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-07-30/news/i-dont-want-public-transport-to-fail-minister-negotiations-underway-with-bidder-6023086080/
Oh what a relief. It’s official The transport minister does not want public transport to fail. Thank you for telling us Minister Mizzi because I was really getting worried.
Idiot.
The Transport minister is worried that public transport might fail.
Twelve months ago we had a public transport system which was working well , even if there was room for improvement. With a large increase in users in 2013, there was no talk of failed public transport then.
But Joe Mizzi in his infinite wisdom chose to force Arriva out of its contract.
Idiot.
If I remember correctly, when the back-stabbing sale of Muscat’s passport scheme was made public, Mr. Joseph Calleja had commented, naturally on his Facebook page, that people should stop whining about the whole scheme and about those who eventually would buy a passport, as long as it brings in the money.
No wonder he received one million euros directly from the MTA’s budget.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/41662/bands_on_the_run_mangion_says_hes_only_a_service_provider#.U9kTdukriUk
“His job was not to simply find a garage but one should also consider the technical research required in finding the perfect place” – Owen Bonnici
Errata corrige: what chance does ………
1. How much does NnG Promotions pay for the use of the Floriana granaries, how many square metres are leased, and for how long is the area at the disposal of the lessee?
2. What is the area of the standing-room space leased back by the government, for how much, and for how many hours?
Why have only Joseph Calleja concerts benefited from government largesse?
Why not the excellent jazz festival or some plays organised at the Manoel Theatre or some other events?
Joseph Calleja can probably sell out a concert anyway with a bit of effort.
The organisers of other events, especially those which struggle to attract large crowds, should kick up a stink.
Funds should be funnelled to all or none.
I don’t agree with the government funding concerts except in very special circumstances but if it really has to, then it should have a fund which all event organisers can tap or at least, a rotating procedure, funding one or two different events a year.
The million euros given capriciously to NnG are a scandal and I’m surprised that not much fuss has been made about them, especially when one remembers that a fuss was made about money spent on a papal visit some years ago. The pope is a head of state, and a very popular one at that. That money was justified. This is not because it is a private business venture.
Rumour has it that a client of the lawyer at MTA (no guesses who he is) will soon be handed a good contract to promote Malta abroad, in particular in the Italian market. As if Javier Zanetti is not expensive enough.
Funnily enough this client too is not Maltese but she has good contacts in the Eternal City.
Expect fireworks in this sense sometime in September.
There is no justification for the Malta Tourism Authority to use its budget this way. It doesn’t promote Malta at all. What a waste of money.
A concert of Joseph Calleja is simply for the enjoyment of his audience and the promotion of Calleja and the other performers. If it is screened elsewhere again it is for viewers to enjoy his singing. Nothing more.
How ever is seeing a stage with fancy lighting a good promotion for the country? Nothing of the country is being shown. Nothing to entice them to come to Malta. We hardly have Joseph Callejas singing in every village square all year round.
Where is the MHRA in this?
Tourism is a fluid activity that depends on a serious policy and strategy. It needs political and community stability to succeed.
The uneasiness that has developed in the authority and the Ministry in he last few months has left a gap between a stable and flimsy situation. We need people in tourism who are professionals and who understand the broader aspect of this activity.
This is not a sector for the dilettante and the cowboy entrepreneur.
I have a feeling Josef Formosa Gauci’s replacement may be one of those two.
I really hope that I am wrong. Anyway thank you to Josef and all those at MTA and the ministry who, in the past showed dedication and commitment to this sector.