Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/212250
16 RCC Notes • Part 2 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2013 CACHIA CARUANA Notes from Inside Castille SAVIOUR BALZAN THE micro-detail to which Richard Cachia Caruana's secretary details his routine discloses an obsession of Fenech Adami's personal assistant with the little aspects of his personal needs, but also the extent to which his staff served his personal needs. From a haircut, to golf at the Marsa Sports Club, Cachia Caruana's day was planned with odd precision. His concern over his diet is manifested in his insistence in eating salads, The document is being published in its entirety. OFFICE DUTIES CARRIED OUT BY MR RICHARD CACHIA CARUANA'S PRIVATE SECRETARY Richard always has to be reminded about his meetings by calling him 30 minutes before the first meeting and 15 minutes before every other meeting if not at Auberge de Castille. He is not reminded about Prime Minister's meetings if he is already with the Prime Minister. If he is in a meeting you send in a note when the participants for the next meeting are all here with the messengers. specifically demanding "no dressing" from McDonalds. I recall a tantrum of his when an Air Malta steward in club class failed to serve him some 'fat-free' meal. No amount of apologies could extinguish his anger. Later that evening, I saw him eat a steak with chips and béarnaise sauce at the Quick fast-food chain in Brussels where he treated me and his staff. An interesting revelation in these notes are his friends, many of which are no longer as close as they might have been: publicist Godfrey Grima, former chief justice Noel Arrigo and entrepreneurs Joe Gasan, Paul Hili and Philip Toledo. The direct link with PN secretary-general Joe Saliba is evi- 1. SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS Hair Cut – schedule every five weeks with Mark Navarro in Sliema Dentist – Dr Robert Sammut, St Lucia Str, Valletta When appointments are scheduled and confirmed by Mr Cachia Caruana the Private Secretary is to call all participants while the day before the meeting she is to reconfirm with the participants. Always keep the name of the person you speak to. 2. SALADS Ms Carmen Ruggier voluntarily prepares a salad for PA to PM when he is in office during lunchtime therefore she is to be informed of any lunches Richard is going to on a weekly basis so that she can buy the vegetables. In case of an EMERGENCY, order a GARDEN SALAD without olives and onion and no dressing from Mac Donald's (send a messenger) 3. INVITATIONS • OPM Invitations are NOT SEEN by or SENT to PA to PM. ALWAYS INFORM PA to PM OF ANY CLASHES • All other invitations received are inserted immediately in diary and preview. PA to PM to be informed Celebrating the European Year of Citizens 2013 CITIZENS' FAIR The Palace - Valletta 23 November from 9:00 to 13:30 This event will include a Citizens' Parliament with MPs and MEPs, EU info points, Kids' area, and visits to the State Rooms, the Chamber of the House of Representatives and the Rooms of the Parliamentary Committees. Financed by the European Union under the Management Partnership • dent, with clear instructions on how Cabinet notes should be addressed to PN HQ. On buying gifts for weddings, there were clear instructions to involve a Mrs Strickland in the purchase of the gifts. The notes say: "When calling her never leave a message. Speak directly to her. When Mrs Strickland buys the gift she will tell you when you are to send it." Even the protocol of condolences is spelt out: instead of a condolence card, a simple business card was to be sent out, with Condolences written and signed by Richard Cachia Caruana. of any clashes. Details as to dress code and RSVP or RO are to be inserted in preview. PA to PM to be reminded to confirm/regret invitation. Invitations are NOT to be inserted in preview ONLY when PA to PM is travelling abroad. In such instances, PA to PM is to be notified verbally of invitation. When accepting or regretting an invitation, person's name and date of phone call must be indicated on the invitation in pencil. 4. CABINET Cabinet Documents are received either on Thursday or Friday and are to be opened IMMEDIATELY AND DISTRIBUTED ON THE SAME DAY UNLESS RECIPIENTS ARE ABROAD. First check if all memos on agenda are attached. Memos marked 'ALREADY DISTRIBUTED' should be found filed at Myriam's end. After Cabinet meeting always give the documents to Myriam for Filing. Please liaise with Myriam. Distribution of documents as follows: • PM's Copy (marked The Prime Minister) to wherever the PM is ask Peter for directions. Envelope to be addressed 'THE PRIME MINISTER' • RCC's in a sealed envelope marked Cabinet docs personal and sent to the car or if PA to PM not in office check with the security and send to the most practical destination. Before sending the envelope you should ask Richard if you can send it to the car. RCC's copy is sometimes kept at his private secretary if Cabinet is scheduled for the future eg If for example cabinet • • • documents are received on Friday 16 and on Monday 19 there is no Cabinet these should not be sent to the car the on Friday 16 but on Friday 23 for Cabinet on Monday 26. The third set of docs marked EXTRA COPY is to be sent to Mr Joe Saliba at Stamperija marked PERSONAL, BY HAND. (You are not to indicate to Mr Saliba that you know what is in the envelope. You may contact to see his whereabouts ONLY in order to obtain dispatch instructions.). On Monday morning when sending the pen to cabinet send in Monday's appointments and the first page of the telephone list in an A3 white folder. If there are any changes in the day's appointments send them in to cabinet together with the front page of the telephone list (if there are any changes to it). Give The Chief Messenger a notepad and PA to PM's PEN (the brown one) first thing in the morning on Cabinet day. Make sure that pen is full with ink!! These are to be placed in front of PA to PM's seat in Cabinet Room at Castille. When Cabinet is held at Girgenti or Parliament, these instructions are not applicable. EU CABINET COMMITTEE DOCUMENTS Same procedure for distribution as in CABINET DOCS but there is NO EXTRA COPY – ie in all TWO SETS OF DOCS one for PM and one for PA to PM. CONDOLENCES PA to PM usually signs a business card PA to PM. Use white personal envelope/ stamp.