Poor governance in Transport Malta's Maritime Division leaves officials without resources, PN says

By: independent.com.mt

Jan 07 2025
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Poor governance in Transport M

The Nationalist Party on Tuesday strongly condemns the Government's poor governance in Transport Malta's Maritime Division, which has left officials without the necessary resources to ensure safety at sea.

Information obtained by the Partit Nazzjonalista reveals that even in the maritime sector - one of the most sensitive industries - abuse of public funds, leadership incompetence, and inefficiency are alarmingly evident.

The saga began with the failure of Transport Malta's tender for five new RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats), which were declared unseaworthy by an independent surveyor. The Partit Nazzjonalista immediately called for a full investigation into this case, including a police inquiry into the tendering process. The National Auditor also identified irregularities, noting that the tender was adjudicated within just 24 hours - raising serious questions about transparency and governance.

Under significant pressure from the PN and independent media, the tender was eventually cancelled, the PN said. However, in June of last year, Transport Malta issued another expression of interest to lease three RHIBs for a short two-month period - from 18th September to 17th November - at a cost of €94,000. This decision not only lacks logic but also reflects wasteful spending of public funds, as the period does not cover the peak summer season - when maritime activity is at its highest - and leaves the most critical months without enforcement. Worse still, it appears that Transport Malta's two existing RHIBs were not utilised during this period.

The PN said it is informed that a new RHIB of the same type costs between €70,000 and €80,000. However, the Labour Government, due to incompetence and disregard for taxpayers' money, spent nearly €100,000 renting boats that could have been purchased for less. Furthermore, two evaluators involved in the cancelled RHIB tender are also evaluators in this latest tender and remain in their positions despite pending investigations from the initial case. This raises further doubts about the integrity of the entire process.

This latest scandal follows a series of failures in the maritime sector, including the Transport Malta contraventions scandal, where more than half of the fines issued by maritime enforcement officers went missing, as well as allegations that enforcement officers were forced to lie under oath.

The Labour Government has completely lost control, is compromising maritime safety, and has lost public confidence in its ability to manage such a crucial sector. Transport Malta's Maritime Enforcement Division is essential for our country's maritime industry, but it is being neglected and undermined by a government mired in scandals and inefficiency, the party added.

The PN said considers the maritime sector crucial and maritime safety a top priority. We are committed to ensuring that maritime officials have the necessary resources to effectively carry out their duties. A new PN Government will implement reforms to restore transparency and ensure the proper use of public funds, so that Malta's maritime sector can once again become a sector of excellence.