Instead, they directed Caruana Cilia to go look for the figures in the government gazette, which publishes the figures every six months. However, this runs completely contrary to established practice before this legislature. 

It is an excuse government entities have begun employing to delay providing the crucial figures – most notably in the case of the Malta Film Awards, which has rejected countless freedom of information requests looking for a breakdown of the €1.3 million event that went over its €400,000 budget. 

Malta’s direct orders system is regularly abused by the ministries, who routinely fail to follow established procedures. Even the head of the direct orders unit is employed by a direct order.

Usually, any payment over €10,000 should be issued through a tendering process. However, there are rules for the Minister responsible for bypassing the procedure, although this should not exceed a €135,000 limit.

This is seldomly followed, with people close to the government reaping millions off the controversial system. 

For example, Infrastructure Malta dished out over €22.6 million in direct orders during the first six months of the year with Joseph Portelli, Bonnici Bros, Ċaqnu and others scoring big along the way.

What do you think of the lack of transparency?