I get to choose who I want in my team – PM
“The people will choose who to elect in Parliament, but the decision on who to appoint to be on my team is mine,” Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
He was replying to questions on the position of OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri during a press conference in Valletta. Dr Muscat said that he will take the decision, on whom to keep on his team at the opportune time.
Mr Schembri has been under fire for more than a year after it was revealed that he, along with Konrad Mizzi, had opened up a company in Panama. More recently it has been alleged that he took kickbacks from Nexia BT’s Brian Tonna, allegedly with relation to citizenship for sale scheme. Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil says he has given an inquiring magistrate proof to this effect. Mr Schembri denies the claims.
Unlike members of Parliament, Keith Schembri is not an elected official but was handpicked by Joseph Muscat. The Prime Minister reiterated, however, that should his right hand man be put under criminal investigation, Keith Schembri would have to step down.
Asked to react on the environmental NGOs comments on the lack of credibility of the Labour Party when it comes to tackle environmental issues, the Prime Minister said that the government and ENGOS have had a ‘thorny relationship’.
“It was partly our fault. Certain policies were not explained properly and in some cases we were judged on the applications put forward,” Dr Muscat added.
The press conference addressed by Dr Muscat, accompanied by Minister for Education Evarist Bartolo, was organised to release more information on the set of proposals which were presented this week by the Labour Party.
Minister Bartolo explained that the PL government would remove Matsec fees and make sure that these exams are held at the same school attended by the students. He said that this would help to reduce stress placed on students.
Commenting on the free supervised transport, Joseph Muscat said that measure will be structured so that it does not exclude small bus service providers.
They also referred to the weight of student’s school bags and that this needs to be reduced through new measures. Minister Bartolo said that the government will also implement a national homework policy with the aim of increasing the student’s playtime and quality time with their family.