A report by Standards Commissioner Joseph Azzopardi found Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri guilty of breaching ethics by hiring Bartolo’s now-wife, Amanda Muscat, in a government role for which she was unqualified and reportedly did not perform, thus misusing taxpayer funds.
Minister Bartolo responded by stating that the employment was brief, followed government policy, and involved no favoritism. He clarified that Muscat had not been employed by the government since 2021 and defended her contributions during her employment. While accepting the report, Bartolo expressed partial disagreement with its findings, apologizing for any potential shortcomings and affirming his commitment to the tourism industry’s growth.
PN leader Bernard Grech responded forcefully, calling for Bartolo and Camilleri’s immediate resignation and urging Prime Minister Robert Abela to dismiss them if they do not step down. Grech labeled the ministers’ actions as “blatant fraud,” accusing them of creating a “phantom job” at public expense.
The report was unanimously endorsed by Parliament’s ethics committee. However, Justice Minister Jonathan Attard declined to comment on potential resignations, stating that the matter should proceed through standard channels.
Arnold Cassola, who initiated the investigation, also called for accountability, urging Prime Minister Abela to take disciplinary action and implement measures to prevent future abuses.
UPDATED WITH PN STATEMENT:
At a press conference at the Parliament building, Nationalist Party (PN) officials strongly condemned Ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri for their involvement in a public funds scandal, as outlined in a report published today by the Standards Commissioner.
The report confirmed that Bartolo’s wife was appointed as a consultant without qualifications and was paid for consultancy work she did not perform, a scheme allegedly enabled by Camilleri, the PN said.
The PN’s Shadow Minister for Public Administration Claudette Buttigieg, Shadow Minister for Tourism Mario de Marco, and Shadow Minister for Gozo Alex Borg drew direct parallels between this case and other instances of ministerial impropriety, such as the hiring of Daniel Bogdanovic by former Minister Justyne Caruana and Rosianne Cutajar’s consultancy contract, which she had admitted was a means to “pig out.” In both cases, officials were compelled to resign due to misuse of public funds.
The PN members stressed that Bartolo and Camilleri’s actions reveal a blatant disregard for ethical standards, evidenced by the transfer of Bartolo’s wife to Camilleri’s ministry following the Bogdanovic scandal.
The Commissioner’s report highlights inconsistencies in the testimonies of Bartolo, Camilleri, and Bartolo’s wife, suggesting possible falsehoods under oath and implying the Prime Minister’s Office was aware of her continued dual roles. The PN insists that, by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s own standards, both ministers should resign or be dismissed.
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