Fire the two ministers, or step aside, Cassola tells PM Abela
Prime Minister Robert Abela should either fire ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri, or make way for a new Labour leader, independent candidate Arnold Cassola said Tuesday.It has been nearly three weeks since the Standards Commissioner's rep
Prime Minister Robert Abela should either fire ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri, or make way for a new Labour leader, independent candidate Arnold Cassola said Tuesday.
It has been nearly three weeks since the Standards Commissioner's report on the abuse of power by Ministers Clayton Bartolo and Clint Camilleri has been published.
The report clearly states that the two ministers breached ethics and misspent funds; that Amanda Muscat was given a job for which she was not qualified and that she did not do a penny's worth of work at the Gozo ministry, Cassola said.
It is shameful that, after these revelations, both ministers have refused to resign and, indeed, have increased their dose of arrogance, impunity and disdain for the rules overseeing transparency and good governance, he added.
What is even sadder is the active participation of our Prime Minister in this charade. In these three weeks, Robert Abela has bent over backwards to cover up for the unacceptable behaviour of his two ministers, resorting to double-speak, the twisting of facts and the justification of the unjustifiable.
It is such a shame that Malta is led by such a spineless Prime Minister who, in order to cover up for his two amoral ministers and to save his own political skin, is ready to ride roughshod over basic human values that we are taught since childhood.
Robert Abela is at a decisive crossroad: he should either fire the two ministers immediately or else make way for a new Labour Prime Minister who can restore some ethical standards in Maltese political life, Cassola said.