Proposal to appoint Konrad Mizzi as Malta’s representative on OSCE withdrawn

that a decision would be taken shortly.

In a statement yesterday evening, the government said the Tourism Minister had, after receiving legal advice, instructed the MTA to cancel the contract “with immediate effect.”

The ministry added that Mizzi had not been paid anything in connection with the contract.

The Opposition had, in the meantime, asked Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate the contract.

Speaking to journalists in the afternoon, Farrugia Portelli said she had not been aware of the contract, as it had been signed before she took on the portfolio, and that she too had only found out about its existence yesterday and had immediately sought legal advice.

Asked by this newsroom how it was possible that neither MTA Chairman Gavin Gulia nor CEO Johann Buttigieg – who only recently took on the role – had told her about the consultancy contract, even after Farrugia Portelli had visited the MTA’s offices on 17 January, the Minister replied that “when I made an official visit with employees, the meeting was not to scrutinise contracts which were drawn up.”

“I started a mechanism wherein I asked the MTA, through my Permanent Secretary, to give me full visibility of every contract which was given in recent weeks so that I can make the necessary decisions – and I took that first decision straight away last night,” she said.

PAC asked to investigate

The Nationalist Opposition yesterday asked Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee to investigate the contract.

Opposition Leader Adrian Delia and PN Deputy Leader Robert Arrigo have asked the PAC chairman to bring the contract before the committee to determine whether public spending rules were followed, whether the MTA board was aware of and approved the contract, and whether the consent of the Finance Minister had been sought.

The Opposition said the contract would mean an annual cost of €80,000 when the law regulating the MTA says that no expenses can be approved without Parliament’s consent.

“The Opposition and the absolute majority of the population expect that this obscene contract given to the Panama Papers Minister is terminated with immediate effect and without further delay,” the PN said.

OSCE nomination withdrawn

In other developments, the government yesterday withdrew its proposal to name Konrad Mizzi as Malta’s representative on the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

On Monday, the government had proposed Mizzi as Malta’s representative on the OSCE, immediately drawing criticism.

In its statement, the government said that Prime Minister Robert Abela will be giving absolute priority to good governance for the country to be able to carry out its work abroad effectively.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri told Parliament yesterday that the government was nominating government MP Jean Claude Micallef instead.