‘These Elites Must Resign’, PN MP Says Of Two Ministers Who Abused Public Funds
PN MP Jerome Caruana Cilia has described Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo and Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri as “elites” after they were found to have abused of public funds by giving Bartolo’s partner a job she was unqualified for.
“No one should interfere in your personal life, but what you do with public funds is in the national interest,” Caruana Cilia said.
“These elites think they can do what they please with public funds, these elites behave with great arrogance, these elites must resign immediately.”
A report by the Standards Commissioner, requested by Arnold Cassola following a Shift News report, had harsh words for Bartolo and Camilleri.
Standards Commissioner Joseph Camilleri found that Bartolo had promoted his girlfriend (later wife) Amanda Muscat from private secretary to policy consultant at his own ministry, on a €62,000 salary, despite her lack of specialised knowledge or qualifications.
She was later moved to policy consultant at Camilleri’s Gozo Ministry with an even higher salary of €68,000 but continued working as Bartolo’s private secretary. Her contract was terminated at the end of 2021.
Muscat also confirmed with the Standards Commissioner that she was never instructed to carry out any research, provide advice or prepare reports, and that her role was more as a coordinator. However, the Commissioner noted that her role as advisor meant she was supposed to be involved in actual policy decision-making.
Although both ministers said their heads of secretariat were responsible for employing Muscat, the Commissioner noted that her role as a position of trust meant she enjoyed the trust of the ministers themselves.
The Opposition has called on both Bartolo and Camilleri to resign from their positions for abusing public funds.
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