The resignation of Manfred Galdes, Director of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) is very worrying as it signifies that another independent person entrusted with monitoring fiscal governance has resigned from his post. This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party.
Alternattiva Demokratika does not accept the explanation that Manfred Galdes resigned to take up employment in the private sector as suggested by the Minister for Finance. He has most probably resigned as he is witnessing the collapse of national institutions with a number of them becoming government yes men. It is obvious that as a result of his resignation from FIAU he must seek employment elsewhere to earn a living.
Last April the Minister for Finance had announced that the FIAU of which Manfred Galdes was the Director, was investigating issues of money laundering in Panama with reference to the media reports relative to the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Keith Schembri and Minister Konrad Mizzi. Although there are indications that this investigation has been concluded, this is by no means a certainty, even though the latest resignation of Commissioner of Police Cassar has been linked to the matter.
In this context, concluded Carmel Cacopardo, the silence of the Attorney General, who is also the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit’s Chairman is worrying. At this sensitive point in time he has the duty to explain what is going on.
—
FIAU: L-Avukat Ġenerali għandu l-obbligu illi jispjega x’inhu għaddej
Ir-riżenja ta’ Manfred Galdes li kien qed imexxi l-Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) bħala Direttur hi nkwetanti għax tfisser li persuna oħra indipendenti li kienet inkarigata biex tissorvelja l-governanza fiskali irriżenjat. Dan qalu Carmel Cacopardo Deputat Chairperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika.
Alternattiva Demokratika ma taċċettax bħala veritiera l-ispjegazzjoni illi Manfred Galdes irriżenja biex jieħu impieg mal-privat kif ġie suġġerit mill-Ministru tal-Finanzi. Irriżenja probabbilment għax qed jara l-istituzzjonijiet nazzjonali madwaru jikkollassaw b’diversi jsiru għaġina f’idejn il-Gvern. Ovvjament jekk ser jitlaq mill-impieg mal-FIAU, dan x’imkien irid jaħdem biex jgħajjex lill-familja tiegħu.
F’April li għadda l-Ministru tal-Finanzi kien ħabbar illi l-FIAU li tagħha Manfred Galdes kien Direttur kienet qed tivestiga l-istejjerdwar ħasil ta’ flus fil-Panama u dan b’referenza għal rapport fil-media dwar il-Kap tas-Segretarjat tal-Uffiċċju tal-Prim Ministru Keith Schembri u l-Ministru Konrad Mizzi. Minkejja li hemm indikazzjonijiet li din l-investigazzjoni ġiet konkluża m’hemmx ċertezza dwar dan avolja l-aħħar riżenja tal-Kummissarju tal-Pulizija Cassar hi assoċjata wkoll ma’ din il-materja.
F’dan il-kuntest, ikkonkluda Carmel Cacopardo, is-skiet tal-Avukat Ġenerali, li huwa wkoll ic-Chairman tal-Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit hu nkwetanti. F’dan il-mument delikat l-Avukat Ġenerali għandu l-obbligu illi jispjega x’inhu għaddej.
