Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/685221
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 29 MAY 2016 11 SAVIOUR BALZAN CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 He did not divulge how much he has been paid for these editorials or whether it was he who determined what sub- ject to deal with in the editorials he wrote, of whether he followed in- structions from the editor to script a leader for newspaper. He told MaltaToday: "I have been a regular contributor to The Times on business issues for at least the last ten years. In my contributions I have always steered away from commenting on controversial po- litical issues. As such I do not be- lieve that I have a conflict of inter- est when commenting on business issues." But Cassar White did not elabo- rate which business issues he had treated for leading editorials, which often are scripted to influence gov- ernment policy and the business community. The Times and other newspapers use editorial contributors and at times the differences in style and editorial bias is stunning, and more often than not also contradictory. "If and when the parties involved in this issue see a potential conflict of interest in what I do, I will give full consideration to their con- cerns. I have not relied just on my own judgment on this, but sought independent advice from different professional sources that have con- firmed my thinking," Cassar White explained. "Moreover, as a director of the bank I have responsibilities at law to all the shareholders of the bank and not just to the shareholders who nominated me, that is, the government of Malta." He insisted that he takes this re- sponsibility very seriously. At present The Times' former managing director, Adrian Hill- man, who was appointed three months before the 2013 election, is facing internal investigations at the Allied Group over unsubstantiated allegations that the newspaper's ed- itorial policy was influenced by "La- bour party interests". Hillman has stepped down from the position. This latest revelation, that the chairman of a publicly owned bank with a government majority share- holding was writing editorials in The Times, may complicate mat- ters even further. In an attempt to shoot down any notion of conflict of interest Cassar White said: "Moreover the bank's Related Party Transactions policy introduced last year prevents me as a director nominated by the gov- ernment from participating in any decision or discussion in which the government may have an interest. I have fully adhered to this policy and will continue to do so." He did not explain that on many occasions The Times had taken editorial stances which could have raised conflicts with the bank and the shareholder. News Cassar White 'sought advice' over editorial contributions Brief for highest standards CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 It will also provide new quality residences but open a challenging debate on en- vironmental impacts and the pros and cons of high rise. In the development brief issued over 10 years ago, the area in ques- tion was earmarked for develop- ment with the precise aim: "To ensure the highest standards of urban design and restoration and conservation, and encourage con- temporary architecture to inter- national standards, that will create landmark buildings that upgrade the image of Paceville." The brief split the block in two main development areas, and states that the scheduled part of Mercury House is to be retained and restored. The brief also stipu- lates that the second area will con- tain a medium rise building of up to eight floors high. The remainder of the building can rise in stages to around 15 floors (indicative maxi- mum height). John Cassar White Zaha Hadid