Standards Commissioner clears Ministers of abusively handing positions

The Commissioner for Standards Joseph Azzopardi has cleared four Ministers of breaching the ministerial code of ethics by handing out Ministry positions to the spouses and partners of Cabinet colleagues.Azzopardi investigated the case after independe

By: independent.com.mt

Jul 22 2024
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Standards Commissioner clears

Azzopardi investigated the case after independent election candidate Arnold Cassola filed a request in March 2023, where he alleged that Energy and Environment Minister Miriam Dalli, Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard had made “abusive appointments to the detriment of taxpayers.”

He asked Azzopardi to investigate them for breaching the code of ethics based on an article from a news portal, which alleged that certain Ministers appointed other Ministers’ family members on government boards and roles, to evade the Ministerial code of ethics which prohibits that a Minister appoints their own family members.

The allegations involved Housing Minister Roderick Galdes’ wife Joanne Galdes who was made Wasteserv board director by Dalli, Transport Minister Chris Bonett’s wife Maxilene Bonett, who was made a consultant by Refalo, the partners of Culture Minister Owen Bonnici and Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul, Remenda Grech and Claudia Cuschieri, made directors at the Kordin Grain Terminal by Schembri, and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri’s wife Deborah Camilleri, who was appointed legal aid lawyer by Attard.

The Commissioner’s report, issued on Monday, annexed letters sent by the Ministers involved explaining the validity of the respective appointments of their spouses and partners, after the Commissioner’s Office wrote to the Ministers involved to inform them of the complaint, ask for their general reactions, as well as request for the considerations made which led to the appointments of the individuals.

In the report, the Commissioner concluded that he was not presented with clear and specific reasons showing that the appointments were made in breach of ethics.

He found that Ministers Refalo and Attard did not breach the code of ethics in appointing Deborah Camilleri and Maxilene Bonett, as both are warranted lawyers, and were not given any privilege.

“As for appointments to boards, both the law and established practice give the concerned Minister wide discretion. This can lead to appointments that may not appear to be examples of meritocracy and widen the perception of favoritism,” Azzopardi said.

“However, there must be clear and specific reasons to determine that a particular appointment is abusive or represents a breach of ethics. In the absence of criteria for the selection of board members, there is no basis on which one can reach such a conclusion regarding the appointments under consideration here,” Azzopardi said, referring to the individuals in the allegation

Azzopardi said that marital connections should not exclude competent and trusted individuals from appointments. He also noted that currently, there is no provision which prevents MPs and their spouses or partners from accepting employment with government Ministries.