Mcast board was 'careless', not criminal
A police investigation has cleared the Mcast selection board - responsible for awarding contracts to private IT training providers - of wrongdoing but found that there were instances of "carelessness".
However, four individuals from two private ICT training providers which submitted offers for training will be charged with making false declarations to a public authority, the ministry said.
Reacting to the findings, the Education Ministry said yesterday: "It must still be ensured that such carelessness is not repeated."
Education Minister Dolores Cristina said instructions had been issued to Mcast to start its course immediately after the Appeals Board decision.
Meanwhile, the ministry and Mcast guaranteed that students would receive the same standard of instruction as other students that had started other courses.
Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, who had requested the police investigation, hit back soon after and said it was shameful that the ministry was protecting the selection board from the irregularities committed in the granting of ICT training contracts.
"Once the police conclude an investigation, the Attorney General's opinion is usually sought to determine whether to proceed with a court hearing for criminal negligence.
"It is not the first time that the police are held back from doing this because negligence is hard to prove due to a legal loophole," Mr Bartolo said.
The Labour MP insisted that nothing changes the fact that the selection board altered the results of its first report and then proceeded to destroy it.
"The board then recommended that the contract is granted to companies that did not meet the required criteria," Mr Bartolo said.
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Marion Pace
Nov 23rd 2008, 18:17
@Mike Micallef
Not all the board members may have been "negligent" , the chairman of the adjudication Board of the tender seems to be the subject matter to this case (as per other articles on this subject). The major responsibility lies with the chairman and the Minister should take the necessary steps as this "carlessness" deterred 600 students from starting their course.
Jason Spiteri
Nov 23rd 2008, 14:13
I wonder whether the Ministry will now retract a statement they had made some time ago implying that bartolo had been preventing students from commencing their studies unfairly, or at the very least capriciously?
Mike Micallef
Nov 23rd 2008, 11:04
What disciplinary actions will the Education Minister take against the MCAST board members who have been found guilty of administrative carelessness? Dear Onor Minister of Education, here you have a golden opportunity to show to all Maltese that you are a responsible Minister by taking action against the MCAST board members concerned. Otherwise, if you fail to take discplinary action, a wrong message will be conveyed that persons under your responsibility can commit any mistakes they want as they will awlays find the protection of ther Minister.
Onor Minister Austin Gatt was man enough to terminate the contract of MITTS CEO when it was found there were administrative shortcomings at MITTS in relation to the email scandal thus sending a clear message that administrative shortcoming are not tolerated. Onor Minister of Education should do the same and all the Maltese persons will praise her.