We have been told by the Hon Tonio Fenech that a certain Mrs Farrugia, wife of Raymond and sister-in-law to George Farrugia of Trafigura fame so admired him (Tonio Fenech) that she wanted to give him a token of appreciation. The token, consisting of an artisanal clock (arloġġ tal-lira).
The value of this artisanal clock is disputed but it seems that the Trafigura agent is putting it at €5,000.
Now this is very interesting as Ministers are bound by a Code of Ethics which in paragraph 58 thereof states :
“58. No Minister should accept gifts or services such as might be deemed to create an obligation, real or imaginary. The same rule applies to the spouse of a Minister and to his minor children. The same rules that apply to gifts from representatives of other Governments are applicable in these cases as well.”
When the Hon Minister Tonio Fenech had accepted a free flight to watch an Arsenal game he realised sometime after that he had made a mistake and apologised (instead of resigning).
What now?
Blog ta' Carmel Cacopardo 
LOL!!!!
Is Tonio Fenech the new Julio Iglesias? Is he a rock star now or even a sex symbol?
Who, in the right frame of mind, would admire Tonio Fenech and give him a clock (no matter how inexpensive it is) to express his/her admiration towards him?
This guy is not Julio Iglesias; he is not a rock star; he is not a world-wide or domestic icon; and is not in any way a philanthropist (the latter would maybe justify admiration).
Who the hell gives this guy a present in admiration?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Hilarious indeed!!!!! 🙂
It is very clear now, more than ever. If one is a PN party official or supporter, then the PN and government go all out to protect whatever he does. If the same perons is not part of the inner circle, then the PN and government ask for his resignation and ask for legal action to be taken! It is so clear now.
Tonio Fenech is being SILLY when he says Mr. George Farrugia’s sister in law gave him the Tal-Lira clock because she ”admired him”. What’s important here is that EVEN if that really happened he should have refused the gift just the same, something he did not do. Another thing: Fenech assures us the gift was given as ”a token of appreciation”. Appreciation for what?
Yet another point: these artisan clocks can command quite high prices if produced by recognised masters. I myself paid LM500 for such a clock about twelve years ago and the craftsman, though certainly quite proficient, cannot be said to be a real ”master of the art”.
So 5000euros paid for Minister Tonio Fenech’s gift is certainly not too high a figure.[administrator’s note: no one stated that euros 5000 was paid; what has been stated is that the gift has a value of euros 5000]
Ilu ftit zmien kien hemm MInistru ghax kien imur jinnamra l Fawwara il bidwi tant iggustah li tah l ghalqa bil post b kollox. Kulhadd b xoirtih u jiern kont imur ninamra fejn l airport u hadd qatt ma tani biljett ta l ajtu ghal inqas, imma kienu jigu is suldati u jnehhuni. Eh dik xorti.