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GOZOTODAY 29 November 2024

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5 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 29 NOVEMBER 2024 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "That is because no such ac- tions occurred." In his response, Camilleri ac- cepted the findings of the report and the decision of the Parlia- mentary Standards Committee to endorse it, while emphasising that due process had been fol- lowed. Muscat, then Bartolo's girl- friend, was given an "unjusti- fied" salary increase as a policy consultant, a job she was not qualified for, the ethics investi- gation showed. She was promoted from pri- vate secretary to policy con- sultant at the tourism ministry despite not having specialised knowledge or qualifications to perform the new role. And she kept the same role of policy consultant with an even higher expertise allowance when joining the Gozo ministry after her job at the tourism ministry was terminated. The transfer to the Gozo ministry happened after she developed a romantic relationship with Bartolo. Muscat has now refunded €16,407 from her public salary as a consultant following the Standards Committee ruling. In a letter she penned to Prin- ciple Permanent Secretary Tony Sultana, Muscat reiterated that she is innocent, "because as the (Standards) Commissioner's re- port states, everything was car- ried out according to the exist- ing manual and regulations." In his statement, Camilleri highlighted that the employ- ment in question adhered to the procedures outlined in the Manual on Resourcing Policies and Procedures. "It's not a case of someone being randomly hired," he ex- plained, adding that the position was short-lived and dated back to a previous legislature. He stressed that Amanda Mus- cat's role did not align with her job title, which was one of the shortcomings flagged in the re- port. He argued that while there were shortcomings in oversight, these did not amount to inten- tional misconduct. Acknowledging the difficul- ty of ensuring complete over- sight of every employee's duties, Camilleri said: "Anyone who has held a ministerial role knows how challenging it is to certify every single task performed by staff. There is always a degree of overlap as employees adapt to the ministry's shifting prior- ities." While defending his position, the minister agreed with the Commissioner's recommen- dations for improved diligence and scrutiny in decision-making processes. Reiterating his dedication to his role, Camilleri pledged to work harder for the people of Gozo and Malta. "I want to give back with great- er effort, not just in diligence, but in delivering for all Gozitans and Maltese," he stated. Opposition leader insists on Camilleri's resigation Opposition leader Bernard Grech accused Robert Abela of trying to protect Clint Camilleri despite the fact that the Com- missioner for Standards in Pub- lic Life found him just as guilty as Clayton Bartolo of abuse of power and breach of the Code of Ethics. During a press conference, Grech said that Abela is so de- termined to shield Camilleri, despite his guilt of fraud, that during Wednesday's meeting of the Parliamentary Commit- tee for Standards, Government representatives voted against a Motion calling for Camilleri to at least apologise in the House of Representatives. "Every passing day further confirms how this Government is one of fraud and corruption, and how Robert Abela repeated- ly chooses whom to defend and who to discard," Grech said. Of the two Ministers guilty of the same fraud, Clayton Barto- lo ended up not only out of the Ministry but also expelled from the Labour Party Parliamentary Group. "On the other hand, the Prime Minister continues to defend Clint Camilleri despite defraud- ing the public. Robert Abela is effectively endorsing the fraud committed by Clint Camilleri," Grech said. The PN leader said that just as Bartolo's position became unten- able after defrauding the public with his wife's fictitious employ- ment, Camilleri's position was equally untenable over the same case. Both Ministers were found guilty of abuse of power and breaching the Code of Ethics. Labour Party members on the Permanent Standards Commit- tee on Wednesday voted against Camilleri refunding all the funds paid by the Ministry for Gozo for phantom consultancy ser- vices. Thus, the government will only recover €16,000, which Amanda Muscat repaid as the difference in salary between her fictitious role as a consultant and her ac- tual job as her husband's private secretary. Almost all requests made in a Motion presented by Opposi- tion MPs Ryan Callus and Mark Anthony Sammut were rejected by the Committee. Among these were calls for the full refund of all misappro- priated public funds, an apology in the House of Representatives from Camilleri, the suspension of both Bartolo and Camilleri for a month, and for the Committee to urge Prime Minister Rob- ert Abela to ensure the highest standards of governance by de- manding Camilleri's resignation or dismissing him as Minister. "Since Robert Abela continues to defend fraud and corruption committed by his Ministers, it is up to the people to clean up this country from a government of fraud only, and fraud constant- ly," Grech said. He said that this is why on Monday, the Maltese people should once again gather in front of Parliament at 6pm. "This is our country, and it is unacceptable for Robert Abela to defend Clint Camilleri in- stead of serving the people he is supposed to represent." Grech said that the people needed to show Robert Abela that he cannot carry on like this. During another press confer- ence on Thursday, outside the Ministry for Tourism, Shadow Ministers Beppe Fenech Adami, Paula Mifsud Bonnici, and Alex Borg stated that when the two Labour MPs on the Parliamen- tary Committee for Standards adopted the report by the Com- missioner for Standards in Pub- lic Life, they did so in full. This means they confirmed that Clint Camilleri is as guilty as Clayton Bartolo, they said. "The Maltese, and especial- ly the Gozitans, deserve better than a Minister who pretends to be unaware of what's happen- ing in his Ministry, while paying his colleague's wife €70,000 for a phantom job," the three PN MPs said. "Gozo deserves a serious Minister who works for the Gozitans, not one willing to de- fraud them." The MPs said the PN will continue fighting to ensure the people have true representation and that public funds benefit the public, rather than being siphoned off by Ministers and their friends. They insisted that Amanda Muscat should not only return €16,000 but the total amount she was paid, given she did not perform the work she was sup- posedly hired to do. Ordinary citizens are not paid €70,000 for phantom jobs. "Amanda Muscat must repay the public what she stole with the help of her husband, former minister Clayton Bartolo, and with the blessing of Minister Clint Camilleri and PM Robert Abela." The spokespersons said that instead of a Government fo- cused on improving the lives of Maltese and Gozitans, the country has one surrounded by people indulging in corruption, with a complicit Prime Minister willing to cover up for them. "While the Maltese work- er struggles and strives, they squander and defraud." they said. 'Gozo deserves a serious Minister who works for the Gozitans' PN leader Bernard Grech

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