Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/224217
4 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2013 Kate Gonzi honoured DANIEL MIZZI JOSEPH Muscat describes her as the pillar of Lawrence Gonzi and "one of the best campaigners". Broadcaster Peppi Azzopardi says she's the woman behind a great man. Kate Gonzi's festschrift 'From the Heart' brings together a compilation of praise from some of Malta's best loved personalities and politicians who have had the pleasure of meeting and working with a woman who made mental healthcare and politics cornerstones of her career. The book collects over 90 essays written by people from different walks of life who share their experience of knowing Kate Gonzi. Gonzi herself talks about the episodes from the last legislature, knowing that the 2008 general election had brought with it a poisoned chalice, and how the Libya conflict proved to be ground, Kate Gonzi was always observant. She is one of the best campaigners and wherever she goes she works the room. Every time I met her during a gathering, she gave me the impression that she was aware of everything that was going on," Joseph Muscat writes. While auguring well for her future, Muscat said that notwithstanding her husband's electoral defeat, Kate Gonzi's importance to her husband and family's life was as crucial as ever. Meanwhile, PN leader Simon Busuttil praised Kate Gonzi's attitude and her ability to listen to other people and their needs as a crucial part of Lawrence Gonzi's success. "During party activities, she would veer away from the media and talk to a patient, or old person. Her distinct characteristic of being able to listen and understand people is a lesson to all politicians who have a tendency of talking rather than listening." rence Gonzi was continually worried and preoccupied by the decisions, but Kate gave him a shoulder to lean on and assured him that his decisions were for the best of the country. "Any time she met someone, she projected true compassion and care. Kate did not pretend that she knew someone but instead she always remembered previous meetings. " Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna also describes her as a sincere and compassionate woman. "Notwithstanding her background role, she conveyed compassion and sincerity. My admiration for her extends to her role as a great companion to Lawrence Gonzi: A great man who will be remembered for having stood by his principles." Other contributors include Cherie Blair, former Nationalist ministers Giovanna Debono and Dolores Cris- Kate Gonzi (second from right) with aides Daniela Allen, Josephine Vassallo Parnis, and Stephania Dimech Sant the most fearful time during the last five years of her husband's premiership. "She is the backbone of her husband's chequered political career and success, and is a fine example of an encouraging spouse," President George Abela writes, describing her as an asset to the nation, a source of inspiration and a role model, and as a soft-spoken and charming lady who withstood the constant pressure that came from her husband's role. "Despite never being in the fore- Broadcaster Peppi Azzopardi says she was an influence on her husband. "Her humility and approach was often conveyed in Lawrence's Gonzi's speeches, who in turn would act upon any suggestions and criticisms communicated to his wife." Describing Kate Gonzi as his preferred candidate for the presidential post, Peppi Azzopardi also hailed her as the "woman behind a great man." "In the wake of the Libya crisis, Law- tina, MP Mario Galea, broadcaster Pierre Portelli, and Eurovision singer Gianluca. 'Kate Gonzi: From the Heart' will be launched at the Radisson SAS St Julian's on Wednesday 18 December 2013 under the distinguished patronage of George Abela. Gonzi will sign copies at Kempinsky Hotel San Lawrenz, Gozo, on Saturday 14 December at 11:30am, and Agenda Bookshop at The Point, on Tuesday, 17 December at 4pm. New evidence in Dalligate investigation MATTHEW VELLA THE jury is out on whether the police are planning to press charges against lawyer Gayle Kimberley, formerly a lobbyist employed by Swedish tobacco manufacturers Swedish Match who found herself right in the thick of 'Dalligate'. It was the greatest scandal to hit the European Commission since the resignation of the Santer Commission: John Dalli, the Maltese commissioner responsible for health and consumer policy, was accused of being aware that Sliema restaurateur Silvio Zammit had solicited a €60 million bribe from Swedish Match and smokeless tobacco lobby ESTOC, in a bid to reverse the EU retail ban on the sale of snus. The accusations, made by antifraud agency OLAF were taken on board by EC president José Barroso, who demanded that Dalli resign. But six months later in June 2012, MaltaToday leaked the confidential OLAF report which had actually suggested that Gayle Kimberley was an accomplice in the bribery. Kimberley, a mother of two, has been treated as a witness in the prosecution of Silvio Zammit. But new evidence in the hands of the police has now warranted her interrogation yet again. Under the stewardship of John Rizzo, the Maltese police planned to charge John Dalli with bribery even though the OLAF report only provided "circumstantial evidence" of phone call logs between Dalli and Zammit. Since Rizzo was replaced by the new Labour government with Peter Paul Zammit, the new commissioner of police has declared that there is "no case" against John Dalli MaltaToday can confirm that new evidence in the police investigators' hands is email correspondence between Kimberley and her husband Matthew Kimberley, and Silvio Zammit. The emails suggest that Kimberley may have had a role in encouraging Zammit how to frame his request for a bribe from ESTOC. Kimberley has already denied the allegations during questioning by Zammit's defence lawyer, during the compilation of evidence against Zammit. The emails show that Zammit was forwarded a proposal from Mat- National Interactive Science Centre Required artefacts of historical value pre-1960 The Villa Bighi complex in Kalkara is to host the National Interactive Science Centre that will include a number of exhibitions amongst other attractions. One of these planned exhibitions will highlight the architectural development of the complex; the lives of people during the hospital years; and the medical technologies practiced during this time. The Foundation of Science and Technology on behalf of The Malta Council for Science and Technology is seeking to borrow, purchase or receive as donations artefacts of historical value from before 1960 to assist the exhibition to take shape. Items such as medical and personal objects, letters, photographs, films and oral histories relating to the topics will be gratefully considered. These will be a valuable addition to the collection. The chosen objects will be restored and displayed with due care. Please help us by contributing towards an exhibition that pays tribute to Maltese history and specifically the Bighi complex as the 'Nurse of the Mediterranean'! Kindly supply a photo of the object together with a brief description of the artefact / object via email to: mark.meilak@gov.mt For more information, please contact: 2360 2181 Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life Investing In Your Future thew Kimberley, with his wife Gayle Kimberley copied in the email, which was to be sent to Inge Delfosse, secretary-general of ESTOC. A bank statement belonging to Silvio Zammit shows Matthew Kimberley's firm, You Rock Ltd, paid Zammit the sum of €3,540 on 2 March 2012, two weeks after Gayle Kimberley was asked by Swedish Match to sever all contact with Zammit. The emails have thrown a new light on the Dalligate affair, specifically with regards to the role played by Kimberley. A 29 February 2012 email seen by MaltaToday shows Matthew and Gayle Kimberley sending Zammit the contents of a lobbying proposal, which Gayle Kimberley had sent to Swedish Match back in November 2011, upon being appointed as a lobbyist tasked with approaching Dalli. The email contains a list of services offered by You Rock Ltd and Gayle Kimberley's curriculum vitae. It is an exact replica of the one sent by Kimberley to Swedish Match on 17 November 2011, in which she offered her services to set up meetings with Dalli for a €5,000 fee. In the email, Matthew Kimberley tells Zammit, "Silvio, suggest you forward this to Inge [Delfosse, secretary-general of ESTOC] Gayle is in copy. You may like to wait for her input before sending." The email was sent after Kimberley had been instructed by employers Swedish Match, to break all contact with Zammit who had, earlier that month, suggested a €50 million bribe to reverse the snus ban, from a Swedish Match official. In a snag that must certainly have attracted attention from police investigators, the email Zammit eventually to ESTOC on 8 March 2012, and reproduced in the OLAF report's own compilation of evidence, retained the original subject line: "Re: Copy/paste proposal", as per the original instruction from the Kimberleys. The only difference from the November 2011 proposal is that references to meetings with the "Commissioner" were omitted in the email Zammit sent to Delfosse. It is yet to be established whether police are probing this correspondence as possible evidence that the Kimberleys assisted Zammit in his approach to ESTOC. But it was this email that set the ball rolling for the bribery complaint from Swedish Match to the EC. Sharing the same office in Brussels – certainly unbeknownst to Zammit – Inge Delfosse informed ESTOC Cchairman and Swedish Match vice-president Patrik Hildingsson of the email. And that's when Hildingsson informed Delfosse that Zammit had already offered Swedish Match to set up a meeting with Dalli for a €60 million fee, in a bid to lift the snus ban. Kimberley had told OLAF investigators that Zammit's email to Delfosse was a misrepresentation of her services. Kimberley told OLAF that Swedish Match public affairs director Johan Gabrielsson had informed her that Zammit was using You Rock Ltd to promote his services with ESTOC. "I was told by Johan that Silvio was using to Inge my proposal of services to Swedish Match for himself and misrepresenting it, I was very upset... the next morning, coincidentally, I saw him at the reception of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority and told him that my services were no longer available, 'make it clear to whoever you are dealing with'. Silvio assured me that he would do this," Kimberley told OLAF in her second interrogation, on 9 September 2012.