Muscat defends President

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has defended President George Abela over attempts to use charity money to fund the studies of his daughter-in-law’s sister, describing the training as “positive”.

“It is a pity that there are a handful of people with dubious agendas trying to tarnish the reputation of a President who has been a unifying factor throughout his term and has worked so hard for the Malta Community Chest Fund and charity,” Dr Muscat’s spokesman told The Sunday Times of Malta.

“The bottom line is that there was a suggestion to help a member of staff to be assisted in her training. We believe such training is investment in human resources and in itself positive,” he added.

Pointing out that the offer for assistance was turned down, Dr Muscat’s spokesman said: “As such, there is absolutely no issue.”

But the Nationalist Party did not mince its words on the President’s contentious offer to Darleen Zerafa, a sister of senior Labour official Lydia Abela, the President’s daughter-in-law. Ms Zerafa is pursuing a Master’s degree on eating disorders in Italy.

A PN spokesman said the MCCF’s role was to help people in need and paying for the degree was “uncalled for and should have never even been contemplated in the first place”.

“Such decisions dent the MCCF’s credibility with the public at large and may have repercussions on the organisation as well as on its beneficiaries. The PN calls on all people holding public office to avoid conflicts of interest, especially where family members are concerned.”

Hoping this was “a one-off incident” that would not be repeated, the PN urged the public to continue supporting the MCCF’s work.

Meanwhile, Labour echoed Dr Muscat’s sentiments, blaming the controversy on “the usual suspects”.

“President Abela has excelled in his performance during the past four years and no cheap attempt by the usual suspects should be allowed to taint the sense of unity he brought about,” Labour’s spokesman told The Sunday Times of Malta.

Labour’s One News recently condemned PN’s media for criticising the President’s actions, making specific reference to a TV programme on Net where several viewers phoned in to call for Dr Abela to resign.

Ms Zerafa, 37, is the personal assistant of the President’s wife and volunteers as the secretary of the Community Chest Fund’s board, which some seven months ago discussed the President’s suggestion to fund her studies in Italy.

According to the meeting’s minutes, published by columnist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the President said he did not feel it was right for Ms Zerafa to fund all the course, travel and accommodation expenses when the foundation would benefit from her additional qualification.

Board treasurer Harry Fenech said during the meeting that Ms Zerafa was “putting herself through great inconvenience, fatigue and stress” to benefit from low-cost air travel.

When Ms Caruana Galizia broke the story on her blog, the President’s office said the board had unanimously agreed to reimburse Ms Zerafa’s expenses since her expertise would be useful to an upcoming project.

The MCCF is currently investing €2 million in a holistic treatment centre for people with eating disorders, Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek, which is being set up jointly with the Health Ministry.

The President’s office also said Ms Zerafa declined the offer and no reimbursements had ever been claimed or paid.

Sources said the MCCF’s investment in this centre was crucial since the costs would have been prohibitive for the Government to foot alone.

The Malta Community Chest Fund is a national charitable institution chaired by the President. Its stated mission is to provide funds “for the relief of poverty, famine, distress, sickness, disability and/or any other needs to individuals, communities, institutions or organisations”.

It also aims to “provide education and support to children who have been in care systems and/or underprivileged children” and to “promote, through grants or scholarships, specialisation in the field of charity organisations”.