The government has broken the law after rushing through the appointment of the board of directors at two crucial regulators without the approval of a parliamentary committee, the Nationalist Party said in a statement.

“This is an arrogant and illegal act done in a panic to solve a situation that has been unaddressed since October,” the PN said in a statement.

In an ironic twist, the law forcing nominations to appear before a parliamentary committee was introduced by the current government.

Following a report from The Times of Malta, the government quickly appointed the board of directors of the Malta Gaming Authority and Malta Communications Authority.

Despite being two crucial regulators, both boards had been left without a chairperson for some months.

Last Tuesday, the 5th of November, the appointment of both boards was made with “with effect from October 1, 2019”.

The chairpersons have been temporarily filled by the CEOs of the two authorities, Heathcliff Farrugia and Jesmond Bugeja. Neither went before the parliamentary committee that would have approved their nomination.

The MCA board will now be made up of Graziella Farrugia, Isabelle Vella, Kevin Abela, permanent secretary Mark Musù, Mario Fava, and Alexandra Mizzi.

Meanwhile, Chris Cilia, Juliana Scerri Ferrante, Ruth Trapani Galea Feriol, Caesar Grech, Roberto Francalanza, and Jacqueline Grech will serve on the MGA’s board.

As noted by The Times, the Malta Council for Science and Technology, headed by Executive Chairman Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando,  is also without a board.

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