Disgraced ex-boss blamed for ferry company’s woes

Disgraced former Gozo Channel chairman Joseph Grech, recently reinstated by the Government, took decisions that severely weakened the company financially, according to documents seen by The Sunday Times of Malta. Board meeting minutes seen by this newspaper also show that Dr Grech spoke in an aggressive manner about board members. Dr Grech had been forced to resign as Gozo Channel chairman in November 2011 after he ordered a ferry back to port to pick him up after arriving late. Replying to criticism over Dr Grech’s recent appointment as consultant, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said he deserved a second chance and that Gozo Channel started facing problems when the former chairman was forced to resign. But documents seen by this newspaper appear to contradict the Prime Minister’s statement. The documents show that as chairman, Dr Grech took major financial decisions without the knowledge of other directors which had driven the company towards insolvency. The situation was so critical that the company’s external auditors would not approve Gozo Channel’s accounts for 2011 without a letter of comfort from the Government. Company sources told The Sunday Times of Malta that Gozo...