'Lame excuse' to retain ambassador

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Leo Brincat said yesterday that the lame excuse by Foreign Minister Michael Frendo to justify the renewal of the appointment of Richard Muscat as ambassador to Ireland until next July would not make the findings by the Auditor-General go away.

Mr Brincat said that the Auditor-General identified in his report various irregularities and omissions of good governance during the time Mr Muscat was responsible for the radio station Voice of the Mediterranean.

The Public Accounts Committee had arrived at an inconclusive answer for the simple reason that although the chairman is appointed by the Opposition, the majority of its members are government appointees.

In fact, these members gave the impression that they were more interested in seeing Mr Muscat get away scot free instead of deciding whether or not there was any omission of good governance.

This apart from all the evidence given in front of the committee in addition to all that was revealed by the Auditor General himself.

Through this action, the government is afraid to prove whether or not it truly believes in transparency and accountability, Mr Brincat said.