It’s hard to find good help - even when you are a Prime Minister
● 64 positions of trust, including a handyman and a dog handler ● PM has not seen Swiss Leaks list ● Evasive on bailout allegations made in Parliament
As the saying goes, it’s hard to find good help these days, even when you are the Prime Minister of Malta.
PM Joseph Muscat yesterday defended the 64 jobs handed out on a ‘position of trust basis,’ which include a dog handler and a maintenance officer.
Questioned on whether cleaners should be engaged on a position of trust basis, Dr Muscat said that if he has a person in his office, he wants someone that he can trust.
Although persons in sensitive posts are usually recruited on a position of trust basis, this concept has been extended to certain low-level jobs.
Economy Minister Chris Cardona has made the highest number of political appointments, having recruited 17 people on a position of trust basis.
Family Minister Michael Farrugia made 15 political appointments, including an administration officer and a customer care officer.
Dr Muscat said a number of political appointments were made in the weeks leading up to the 2013 general election, some of which were illegal.
PM says he has not seen Swiss Leaks list
On the now infamous Swiss Leaks controversy, Dr Muscat said that he has yet to see the list.
He said he has requested a list of politically exposed persons on the list, including those who have formed part of government boards in the past.
This “short list” has not arrived yet, he said.
On Tuesday, The Malta Independent reported that there are no more ministers, former ministers or MPs on the Swiss Leaks list.
The Swiss Leaks files have been made available to The Malta Independent through an investigative partnership with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and French newspaper Le Monde.
The Swiss Leaks files, which is a project led by the ICIJ, is based on a list of around 60,000 leaked files that provide details on over 100,000 HSBC Switzerland clients and their bank accounts.
The only two politicians who held secret Swiss bank accounts are those exposed by this newsroom three weeks ago, namely former PN ministers Ninu Zammit and Michael Falzon.
Mr Zammit hid a cool $3.2 million in his Swiss account while Mr Falzon held a more modest €465,000.
Both the former ministers have benefitted from tax amnesties, meaning the money they held abroad – or at least some of it – has been repatriated and all their past tax evasion has been forgiven.
Evasive on allegations made in Parliament
The Prime Minister refused to be drawn in on allegations made by Transport Minister Joe Mizzi against Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.
On Tuesday, Mr Mizzi alleged in Parliament that Attard Petroleum Services Ltd, of which Dr Busuttil was legal adviser, had had problems with its stock of aviation fuel.
The PN was at the time trying to win back the trust of disgruntled companies. Mr Mizzi claimed that the government had given €4 million to the company on the recommendation of Dr Busuttil, who was PN deputy leader at the time.
“We will speak at the appropriate time,” Dr Muscat said when asked if he stands by Mr Mizzi’s claim.
The Transport Minister said some had tried to silence him but he had nonetheless reported what was happening at the Mediterranean Offshore Bunkering Company (MOBC) to Parliament, yet nothing was done.
Mr Mizzi noted that MOBC has been repeatedly mentioned in connection with Enemalta’s fuel procurement scandal.
Dr Busuttil, who said he had heard Mr Mizzi’s claims from his car on his way to Parliament, challenged Mr Mizzi to repeat his claims outside, where he would not be protected by parliamentary privilege.
PM thanks Manuel Mallia for steering disciplined corps unionisation Bill through Parliament
Former Home Affairs minister Manuel Mallia and current minister Carmelo Abela were both praised by the Prime Minister today for seeing through a law allowing members of the disciplined forces to join a union of their choice.
Dr Muscat thanked Dr Mallia for piloting the Bill through Parliament and Mr Abela for seeing it through.
The Prime Minister said members of the disciplined corps will be able to join a union of their choice without any pressure.
“It is your choice and no one can influence this choice. The government will respect the choice you make,” Dr Muscat told members of the corps.
Dr Muscat said whistleblowers should not be castigated but encouraged.
“4,000 people who were not represented will now have the opportunity to make their voices heard,” Dr Muscat said.
Home Affairs minister Carmelo Abela said serving in the corps should be seen as a profession and a career.
Members of the disciplined corps will now be given the opportunity to speak up about their working conditions, he said.