The Nationalist Party is refusing to say what its relationship with security agencies is after MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that both parties got such services for free.

The Times asked the two large parties to explain what the security companies they use regularly are given in exchange for the services provided.

The Labour Party confirmed it gets “voluntary” assistance but the Nationalist Party refused to reply.

Labour said it had its own internal security set-up, which was entirely made up of volunteers and headed by former Assistant Police Commissioner Alfred Abela, also a volunteer. They handle security at Labour headquarters and public events.

“When extra security is needed for mass events, Labour recruits further professional security offered on voluntary basis,” a spokesman said.

This is generally provided by Kerber Securities, the company that was recently assigned to offer protection to Dr Pullicino Orlando.

Asked whether the company was being promised anything in return for its services, such as preferences under a Labour government, the spokesman replied: “No.” The Times reported last week that Labour provided Dr Pullicino Orlando’s family with private security following “credible” threats he had received after voting with the opposition to oust Malta’s EU Ambassador, Richard Cachia Caruana.

Dr Pullicino Orlando admitted that the Opposition Leader’s wife, Michelle Muscat, contacted his partner, Carmen Ciantar, a Labour activist and friend, to offer free round-the-clock private security.

Dr Pullicino Orlando also said he usually engaged the security agency of Stephen Ciangura, “a personal friend”, who also provides the PN with security on a regular basis.

“He provides his services to the PN free of charge. He does not charge me for his services either,” he said.

Tempers flared briefly when two private security men, including Mr Ciangura, accompanying Dr Pullicino Orlando were barred from entering the PN headquarters ahead of an executive committee meeting on Thursday.

Dr Pullicino Orlando later described the incident as “ridiculous”.

“These people have been going to PN headquarters for years, working as security officers and, yet, they were stopped by persons we hardly ever saw there, people who belong to a particular clique,” Dr Pullicino Orlando said on Thursday.

He said that Mr Ciangura accompanied him to and from Parliament on the night of the vote and provided the PN with his services on a regular basis including during the 2008 general election, the 2011 referendum and the 2012 local elections.

Dr Pullicino Orlando said that Mr Ciangura had also been engaged to provide security personnel for an activity held recently on the occasion of Lawrence Gonzi’s birthday.

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