Wasteserv’s auditors interviewed all those in “key operation positions” but did not consult the board because they had already “lost all credibility”, according to Environment Minister Leo Brincat.

He was reacting to former chairman Ben Farrugia who said a damning audit report into Wasteserv did not do justice to the work of the board, which should have been given a chance to respond.

“They are entitled to their opinion, but then so is the general public that was shocked by these findings. I even received e-mails from abroad showing concern about this dismal state of affairs,” Mr Brincat told The Sunday Times of Malta.

He said the board members had lost credibility when they were criticised by the Auditor General in an 11-page report.

They lost even more when a company Wasteserv commissioned to do an internal audit complained of gate-keeping regarding 60 per cent of the most sensitive areas they were meant to review, Mr Brincat added.

He said a separate financial review that is nearing finalisation and would also be published included the contributions of those in key operational positions.

Asked about the €250,000 in bonuses paid over six years to around 11 managers, Mr Brincat said these were “far too generous” considering the lack of good governance and poor management structures as well as a near absence of checks and balances.

Mr Brincat also said he found it hard to believe all that went on at the State-owned waste management company could be attributed to sheer incompetence.

Mr Farrugia was quoted in Times of Malta on Saturday saying the company was under constant financial and human resources pressure.

“I don’t think it is fair to judge Wasteserv simply on administrative deficiencies,” he said, adding its national challenges had taken priority.

“We were definitely not perfect but we must see what was achieved.”

Meanwhile, former minister George Pullicino lashed out at Mr Brincat for denying board members the opportunity to defend themselves. “Of course there were problems, like there are in all companies. But there were also issues of resources... you should not rubbish the good we managed to do,” he said.