Transport Minister silent on Piscopo’s business interests

Transport Minister Ian Borg has not replied to questions on the private business interests of Lands Authority CEO James Piscopo with the Zammit Tabona family who owns, among other interests, the Fortina Group.

Asked to state his position following a report by The Sunday Times of Malta and to say what action he will be taking to safeguard the public interest over any potential private interests, a spokeswoman for Dr Borg avoided giving any direct replies.

Instead, she only directed Times of Malta to the law regulating the conduct of the Lands Authority and its officials.

“You may wish to note that this is regulated by Article 31 of CAP 563 – kindly I ask you to refer to that,” was the reply by the Transport Ministry.

Times of Malta asked Dr Borg to say whether he was aware of Mr Piscopo’s private business interests, whether Mr Piscopo had declared these interests with the board once the Fortina negotiations were ongoing and whether any due diligence was made on Mr Piscopo’s private interests prior to his appointment as CEO.

READ: Fortina developers shift plans to focus on mega office block

According to the law cited by Dr Borg, the CEO was obliged to declare to the Lands...