WATCH: Net Television presenter hosts swearing, fake YMCA ‘president’

Employees, managers and board members of YMCA Malta couldn’t believe their eyes on Wednesday evening, when the Nationalist Party’s Net TV presented YMCA founder Albert ‘Bertu’ Degiorgio as ‘president’ and let him speak on behalf of the organisation in Roderick Agius’ programme ‘Kontrakurrent’.

Degiorgio, the founder of YMCA in Malta, has not been with the organisation for many years, but still regularly claims he is ‘president’ or ‘general manager’ of the NGO, presenting self-made business cards.

This has led to various police reports and the organisation banning him from entering its premises, and it is understood that Bertu Degiorgio appears to have mental issues.

NGO: ‘Newsrooms ignore Bertu’

YMCA employees told NEWZ.mt, that Maltese newsrooms usually ignore Degiorgio or contact YMCA Malta to check whether Degiorgio actually speaks on behalf of the organisation.

However, Net TV’s Roderick Agius didn’t smell a rat on Wednesday evening, when Degiorgio claimed he hit YMCA shelter residents after “they threw a baby from a two-storey height” – an incident that never happened according to the NGO.

Agius, who appeared to be unprepared, also didn’t question any other political statements and claims Degiorgio made on issues like abortion, cannabis and funding in contradiction to YMCA’s known values and positions.

At one point, Degiorgio could be heard swearing “Ħaqq l-ostja Madonna”. However, most of his eyebrow-raising statements remained totally unchallenged.

YMCA: ‘Huge reputational damage’

YMCA Malta immediately issued a statement, saying it distances itself from Degiorgio and his views discussed during ‘Kontrakurrent’, pointing out the NGO was not made aware or invited to the programme.

The organisation’s CEO Anthony Camilleri told NEWZ.mt that letting Degiorgio present himself as YMCA executive is able to create huge reputational damage to the NGO and could discourage companies and individuals from making donations.

PN’s secretary general had to intervene

NEWZ.mt has learned that an intervention by Michael Piccinino, the Nationalist Party’s secretary general, was needed late Wednesday night in order to unlist the episode from Net On Demand.

It is understood that Piccinino has apologised to YMCA Malta’s CEO Anthony Camilleri, and that the PN will also issue some kind of public apology through its station Net TV.

However, in a first reaction to this newsroom’s editor, Net TV’s Roderick Agius denied any responsibility.

Partit Nazzjonalista deleted the episode

Update 30 December 16:15

The PN has now deleted the episode of its programme ‘Kontrakurrent’ on ‘Net on Demand’.

An interview with YMCA Malta CEO Anthony Camilleri on ‘Net Live’ has been scheduled for next week.

In the meantime, the programme has found its way onto YouTube, where it is referred to as a “total disaster”.