Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1530938
4 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 27 DECEMBER 2024 NEWS WHEN Parliament reconvenes in the new year, the Public Ac- counts Committee (PAC) will launch a new investigation that is expected to shed more light on activities within the Minis- try for Tourism and the Minis- try for Gozo between 2020 and the present year. As part of this process, the Committee will also examine the findings from the Auditor General's report con- cerning the Malta Film Com- mission. This comes in the wake of the scandal involving former Minis- ter for Tourism Clayton Barto- lo and Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri, both found guilty of misappropriating public funds by awarding consultancy con- tracts to one of their spouses. The investigation will be held following a request by the Par- tit Nazzjonalista for the PAC to scrutinise the Auditor General's November report titled Evalu- ating the Role of the Malta Film Commission in Promoting the Maltese Film Industry. Addi- tionally, the Committee will be asked to examine the accounts of statutory authorities and par- astatal entities under these Min- istries for the five-year period from 2020 to 2024. Although the Public Accounts Committee cannot issue con- demnations or judgements, it plays a critical role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and public fund management oversight. Given recent revelations of abuses by Labour Government Ministers involving public funds — notably resulting in the resignation of one Minister, while another still resists step- ping down — the Partit Nazz- jonalista insists on the necessity of bringing this matter before the PAC, the only Parliamen- tary Committee chaired by the Opposition. The scandal exposed how for- mer Minister Clayton Bartolo and Minister Clint Camilleri colluded to secure a consultan- cy role worth nearly €70,000 per year for Bartolo's wife, de- spite her lack of qualifications. In a separate report, the Auditor General investigated the Malta Film Commission's spending of millions in public funds. The Auditor General's key findings include: · The Malta Film Commission lacked a solid strategy and busi- ness plans for spending related to Malta Film Week · The Commission failed to provide records of accounts and contracts, preventing the Audi- tor General from fully auditing Malta Film Week's expenses · The Commission could not demonstrate that its multi-mil- lion-euro expenditure repre- sented value for money · Governance deficiencies, in- cluding the absence of meeting minutes and detailed expendi- ture reports, were highlighted · A weak audit trail com- promised business continuity, transparency, accountability, and value for money principles The Partit Nazzjonalista sup- ports strategic investment in the film industry to benefit both local productions and attract in- ternational projects. However, it demands full accountability from the Labour Government regarding how public funds are being spent. The Public Accounts Commit- tee hearing, where witnesses will testify under oath in the House of Representatives, is expected to commence after Parliament resumes following the Christ- mas and New Year holidays. New investigation before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee The Opposition will present the Auditor General's report on the Malta Film Commission and the accounts of government entities under the Ministry for Tourism and the Ministry for Gozo to be examined by the Committee`