Clint Camilleri is as guilty as Clayton Bartolo, and should resign as well - PN
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri is as guilty as former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and should also resign, Nationalist Party MPs said during a press conference outside of the Ministry for Tourism on Thursday.Nationalist Party MPs Alex Borg, Beppe
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri is as guilty as former Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and should also resign, Nationalist Party MPs said during a press conference outside of the Ministry for Tourism on Thursday.
Nationalist Party MPs Alex Borg, Beppe Fenech Adami, and Paula Mifsud Bonnici stated that there is no place in parliament for those who exploit the public for personal gain.
Borg referred to the situation involving Camilleri and Bartolo as "another scandal in a series of scandals". He said that the Standards Commissioner's report on the ethics breach involving Bartolo's wife, Amanda Muscat, made it clear that the political responsibility must be shouldered by both Bartolo and Camilleri. Borg continued that the report clearly indicates that this is a situation of fraud which involved the public funds of the Maltese and Gozitan people.
He commented that the funds were being used to give the wife of a Minister a "phantom job", with the report indicating that Muscat continued functioning as Bartolo's secretary despite working for the Ministry for Gozo.
Borg said that there is a need for change in the route that Malta so that opportunities become available to everyone.
The Standards Commissioner's report found that Bartolo and Camilleri had abused their power when Bartolo's girlfriend at the time, now his wife, Amanda Muscat was given a consultancy job within the Ministry for Gozo which she had no qualifications for and did not do. The Standards Committee unanimously decided to adopt the conclusions of the Standards Commissioner's report which found that the two relevant Ministers had breached ethics.
Bartolo resigned from his position as Minister on Tuesday morning and was then removed from the Labour Party Parliamentary Group, reportedly due to new circumstances surrounding allegations that Muscat received tens of thousands of euros in relation to a possible kickback for a Malta Tourism Authority contract.
The PN said that if the Standards Committee, including the government's representatives, has confirmed that both Bartolo and Camilleri were guilty of fraud, then they should both resign.
It continued that through the leadership of Bernard Grech, the Maltese and Gozitan people united with the PN to protest and call for Bartolo's resignation. The PN stated that the same people will protest next Monday to insist that Camilleri should also resign or be dismissed. It commented that Gozo deserves a serious Minister who works for the Gozitans, "not one willing to defraud them".
Fenech Adami remarked that Bartolo had to resign from his position as Minister despite what he and Prime Minister Robert Abela wanted due to the anger of the people and the PN's campaign. Fenech Adami commented that Abela is continuing to defend the other Minister involved in the scandal, referring to Camilleri. "Camilleri is as responsible as Bartolo for what happened, he participated in the fraud that occurred which involved the theft of thousands of euros," the PN MP said. He continued that Camilleri participated in the fraud of a "phantom job for Amanda Muscat," and added that the Gozo Minister collaborated to cover it up.
"Camilleri knew that Muscat was not qualified for the consultancy position, and he is personally responsible for accepting this... The PN insists that Camilleri should shoulder political responsibility as well," Fenech Adami concluded.
Mifsud Bonnici said that Bartolo had to leave because of the strength of the people and the pressure applied by the PN, and she commented that the same should happen with Camilleri, as "Camilleri is as guilty as Bartolo and should also leave".
She remarked that this situation is not the first time that people have heard of this government's fraud. "For years we have heard of every type of fraud... In addition to the initial ethics breach report, we are now hearing of allegations that Muscat received €50,000 in kickbacks for an MTA deal."
Mifsud Bonnici remarked that this government will only be recognised as "a government of corruption and fraud". She spoke of other scandals, "including the €400 million stolen on the hospitals deal". She also mentioned the drivers licences fraud, Identita Malta scandal, and the social benefits racket.
The PN said that Muscat should return the total amount she was paid, "not only the €16,000". They said that she should pay it all back because she did not perform the work which she was hired to do, and added that "ordinary citizens are not paid €70,000 for phantom jobs".
It commented that "when those at the top enrich themselves, those below them are tempted to follow suit", referring to a case involving the former CEO of the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers (AWAS) being guilty of abusing public funds.
When asked by journalists what the PN is prepared to do if it is found that PN MP Toni Bezzina was being paid for work which he did not go for, Borg replied that the PL is recycling stories from years ago where it was evident that nothing came of them. Borg remarked that the government is trying to bring up old stories to divert the people's attention, and continued that the people have made it clear in the Local Council and European elections that they are tired of the way the government is operating.
The PN MPs concluded by urging people to attend the protest outside parliament on Monday 2nd December at 6pm. They said that "real justice needs to happen", and that real justice would be for Camilleri to resign as Minister. "The protest on Monday is to make it clear that the people are fed up with the continuous scandals and want a change in the country's direction, a change to rebuild the country's formerly great reputation," they commented.
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