MP calls for parliamentary inquiry into the MMA

Labour MP Joe Mizzi has challenged the government to set up a parliamentary committee to investigate claims of corruption and abuses at the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA).

In his speech in Parliament, Mr Mizzi mentioned a number of yachts and their names and questioned how these had been given a permanent berthing facility. He said a yacht called "Dots" was first given a temporary berth, then given a permanent one and then, all of a sudden, this berth was given to another yacht by the name "Dots 2" which did not appear on any register.

He said other yachts were given berths on a temporary basis including to someone "very close to Castille", and another one to PN election candidate Pippo Psaila who signed two separate contracts for summer and for winter so he does not have to pay for two months.

Another yacht called Nikaris, was listed as being owned by a private company but on the registry, the yacht was listed in the name of the berthing master, he said.

Mr Mizzi said a former MMA director, who is now an advisor, had a yacht and sold it berth and all, but now has another yacht called Omera and has another berthing facility.

He said that speaking in Parliament on June 25, he had mentioned two auditors - Stafrace and Attard - who had spoken to one Mr Farrugia. "There is an MMA auditor whose father-in-law was also given a permanent berth. How did he get this? There are also other people who favoured relatives of people involved in the MMA," he said.

He said a few months ago, he had mentioned a case where an owner of a sea vessel had gone to an agent to register his ship but the MMA did not accept to place it on the registry. Some time later, the same owner went to another agent and the ship was registered. Was this not corruption?

He said that although corruption cases surfaced and were even taken to court, no one had resigned, assuming responsibility for what had happened.

Concluding, Mr Mizzi challenged the government to set up a parliamentary committee to investigate corruption and flagrant abuses at MMA, adding that despite attempts to discredit him, he would continue to mention these cases in Parliament.