Disgraced ex-ferries boss now consultant

A former Gozo Channel chairman forced to resign after summoning a ferry to return to port to pick him up has been engaged as the minister’s consultant on the company. Joseph Grech is conducting regular meetings with Gozo Channel personnel and is practically managing the day-to-day business of the firm, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt. When contacted, Gozo Channel chairman Joe Cordina confirmed that Dr Grech has attended meetings but declined to comment on whether he is effectively in charge at the company on behalf of Gozo Minister Anton Refalo. “I don’t know what his role is. All I know is that Dr Grech is not a consultant of Gozo Channel,” said Mr Cordina, a former Labour Party official who was appointed Gozo Channel chairman after the March election. When asked whether Dr Grech is meeting employees, Mr Cordina said: “I think you should ask the minister about Dr Grech’s role, not me.” Questions sent to the Gozo Ministry remained unanswered at the time of going to print. Dr Grech failed to return calls made by this newspaper. A Gozitan lawyer, he was appointed by the Nationalist administration as chairman of Gozo Channel in 2011. But he was forced to resign following an...