Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who earns almost €60,000 as executive chairman of the government’s science agency, only frequents his office on Wednesdays and is at his dental practice on the other days of the week.

When Times of Malta contacted the Malta Council for Science and Technology posing as a client seeking to speak to Dr Pullicino Orlando, the receptionist said it would be better to call his dental clinic as he was normally only at the MCST office on Wednesdays.

The receptionist then provided the phone number of Dr Pullicino Orlando’s private clinic in Żebbuġ.

When Times of Malta followed up with a call, it was told that Dr Pullicino saw clients from Mondays to Saturdays every morning, except Wednesdays; and he was available in the afternoons every Monday and Tuesday.

When contacted for a reaction, Dr Pullicino Orlando said his financial package came up to €55,000 and was identical to that of his predecessor – former CEO Nicholas Sammut who resigned in 2013.

I dedicate much more than 40 hours a week to council- Pullicino Orlando

“I was offered the post of executive chairman when Dr Sammut indicated he would not be seeking renewal of his contract. This has resulted in savings of €19,000 for MCST (my previous earnings as chairman from 2010 to 2013),” he said.

Dr Pullicino Orlando did not state how many hours a day he spends at MCST’s headquarters, but insisted he dedicated “much more” than 40 hours a week on MCST-related work.

“You will appreciate that certain work-related meetings cannot be organised in my office at Villa Bighi,” he said, pointing out that over the past week he had meetings with the Prime Minister, the Parliamentary Secretary, and a team from the Finance Ministry, among others.

“We do not carry out any research or scientific activity at MCST. I would be more than happy to correct this misconception. My role as executive chairman is purely administrative.”

Though admitting he still practised as a dentist he insisted this was only “on a part-time basis”.

“My predecessor, Nicholas Sammut, also worked at the university on a part-time basis. Our contract does not preclude us from engaging in other activities,” he said.

Dr Pullicino Orlando was first appointed as a non-executive chairman of MCST by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi in the last legislature.

Following his departure from the Nationalist Party and his open support for the Labour Party, Dr Pullicino Orlando was once again appointed as chairman of the agency by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat but this time on a full-time basis.

According to a reply given in Parliament to PN MP Jason Azzopardi, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said that as executive chairman Dr Pullicino Orlando was now receiving an annual financial package of almost €60,000. Dr Pullicino Orlando has also put on MCST’s payroll his former private security agent Stephen Ciangura, whose job title is “assistant and driver to executive chairman”.

Mr Ciangura acted as security for Dr Pullicino Orlando when the former Nationalist MP was openly rebelling against the party.

Dr Pullicino Orlando had told Times of Malta that he had engaged Mr Ciangura as personal security guard and described him as “a personal friend”.

Asked yesterday to say whether Mr Ciangura attended work on a daily basis and how he was employed, Dr Pullicino Orlando did not respond.

However, he confirmed that his former personal bodyguard was now working for him at the government agency.

“MCST requested the secondment of my driver, Stephen Ciangura, from the AFM [Armed Forces of Malta] after my previous driver took up a post in another government department. Mr Ciangura carries out other duties for our entity,” Dr Pullicino Orlando said.

Financial package

Annual salary €33,853
Performance Bonus (10%) €3,853
Expense allowance €2,096
Market correctivity allowance €11,647
Car allowance €4,193
150 litres of fuel a month €2,430
Free internet/phone unknown
Total €58,072

Transcripts of phone calls to clinic and MCST

Transcript of phone call made to dental clinic on Friday at 11am:

Journalist: Hello. Can I make an appointment with the dentist please?

Receptionist: With Dr Jeffrey [Pullicino Orlando]?

Journalist: Yes please.

Receptionist: In the morning or in the evening?

Journalist: When will he be there please?

Receptionist: He is always here in the mornings, except on Wednesdays. In the afternoon he is here every Monday and Tuesday.

Journalist: So he is always there?

Receptionist: Basically yes, except Wednesdays.

Journalist: Does he also work at the clinic on Saturdays?

Receptionist: Yes. He also works in the morning.

Journalist: Can you set me an appointment for Saturday please.

Receptionist: He is full. The first appointment I can give you is Saturday 30th [May] at 11am.

Transcript of the phone call made to the MCST headquarters on Friday at 11.15am:

Journalist: Good Morning. Can I speak to Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando please?

Receptionist: He is not here today.

Journalist: Will he be there today?

Receptionist: No he won’t be here today.

Journalist: Can you please tell me when and at what time I can speak to him please?

Receptionist: Ahem... can I give you the number of his [dental] clinic maybe you can call him there?

Journalist: Yes please.

Receptionist: [clinic number provided]

Journalist: So the best way to speak to the chairman is to call him at the clinic?

Receptionist: Listen... he won’t be here all the time normally. If you want I can also put you through to his PRO.

Journalist: No need. So he isn’t there every day?

Receptionist: No. He is normally only here on Wednesdays. If I were you I would try the clinic.

Journalist: OK. Many thanks.

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