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Jason Azzopardi Accuses Prime Minister of ‘Lying’ After Tabling 2010 Investigation Into Breaches By Tuna Industry

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Opposition MP Jason Azzopardi has accused the Prime Minister of “lying” over claims that disgraced Fisheries Director Andreina Fenech Farrugia did not have “a single adverse comment in her file” when reinstating her to the role in 2013.

Fenech Farrugia was first removed from the post in 2011 after EU fisheries officials continuously warned the country over administrative shortcomings, and she was replaced by Joe Caruana.

However, in a merry-go-round of appointments, Fenech Farrugia was reinstated to her old role in May 2013, two months after the Labour Party assumed power

In a parliamentary adjournment speech yesterday following comments Muscat gave to this newsroom, Azzopardi tabled a 2010 investigation by the Internal Audit and Investigations Department.

The investigation was prompted after a letter sent by EU’s fisheries commissioner Maria Damanaki flagging issues surrounding non-compliance and lack of controls under Fenech Farrugia.

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Andreina Fenech Farrugia: Photo: Icam Studios

It revealed serious irregularities within the directorate; involving inconsistent caging figures, data monitoring, technical fails of monitoring systems and the lack of invoices of 170,000 kilos of tuna sold to Turkey in 2008 by Malta Fish Farming Ltd.

A memo also showed how the European Commission’s director-general for fisheries and maritime affairs Lowri Evans was pleased with the improvement of the directorate between 2011-2013.

Azzopardi called on current EU Commissioner Brincat, who was Environment Minister at the time, and former fisheries Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes to provide an explanation behind her reappointment.

He also took to social media to question what Muscat’s “interest in the tuna industry” actually is.

READ NEXT: Malta Fisheries Directorate Had Reported Spanish Tuna Magnate To Police Months Before Boss’ Suspension

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.

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