Edward Zammit, who until recently served as the Tourism Minister’s chief of staff, has been given a top job at the Malta Tourism Authority without a public call. Mr Zammit’s appointment was issued on the direct instructions of Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, who is also politically responsible for the MTA.

MTA sources told this newspaper that no one at the authority was aware of the new appointment until the authority’s staff received a letter from CEO Paul Bugeja welcoming Mr Zammit as the new Events Operations Adviser.

“Mr Zammit will be responsible for the International Marketing Relations, Special Projects and Events and Customer Care Unit,” Mr Bugeja wrote in his note. “I invite all staff to welcome Mr Edward Zammit on board and to extend your co-operation and assistance to him,” Mr Bugeja said.

I invite all staff to welcome Edward Zammit on board

This newspaper is informed that the board of directors was not told about Mr Zammit’s new post, which comes with an annual salary in the region of €50,000.

Asked to state how Mr Zammit was chosen for the top MTA post and whether a call for applications – as is usual for such a ost – was issued, a spokesman for Dr Zammit Lewis said no call was necessary since the appointment involved a “position of trust”.

The minister’s spokesman said Mr Zammit’s financial package is equivalent to that of an MTA senior manager, but it has refused to publish his contract.

This is not the first time that the MTA has bypassed normal channels in its recruitment.

Shortly after the Labour Party was elected to power, Michelle Buttigieg was directly employed by the MTA, without any call, to manage the authority’s new office in New York.

Ms Buttigieg is also the business partner of Michelle Muscat – the Prime Minister’s wife – in a costume jewellery company.

Despite various requests, the Tourism Ministry has so far declined to publish Ms Buttigieg’s contract of employment.