PBS has filed a judicial protest against Grace Borg and Andrea Milana, calling on them to desist from any actions which could endanger Malta's partcipation in the Eurovision Song Contest. The state broadcaster also held the two responsible for damages.

In its protest, PBS said it had resulted that Ms Borg and Ms Milana, who are in dispute with Malta's Eurovision participant Thea Garrett over management rights, had written to the European Broadcasting Union and put pressure on it in order to force the Eurovision Song Contest organisers to stop Thea Garrett - and therefore Malta - from participating in the festival.

PBS said it was never involved in the management of Ms Garrett but it had been bound, as the organiser of the Malta Eurosong Contest, to enter into a contract with Ms Garrett about her participation in the Eurovision Song Festival.

In the contract, Ms Garrett gave a guarantee that there were no ties which prevented her from entering into the contract, and there was nothing which could stop her participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

PBS said it never interfered in the management issues between Thea Garrett, Borg and Milana and had even tried to mediate between them. Its only purpose was to ensure Malta's successful participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.

PBS pointed out that the total cost related to Malta's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest was almost €400,000 and Ms Borg and Ms Milana, through their actions, were in an irresponsible manner, endangering Malta's participation, to the detriment of PBS and Malta's image.

The state broadcaster therefore held the two responsible and called on them to stop their actions.

See also

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100513/local/lawsuit-filed-over-thea-garrett-exclusive-rights