Parliamentary Secretary Josè Herrera yesterday accused the Opposition of kicking up “a storm in a teacup” over the one share in Fort Security Services Ltd held by 18-year-old Karl Cutajar, who had since relinquished his holding.

To repeated questions by Opposition MPs, Dr Herrera said it was obvious that the holder of a sole share would have had no commercial or financial sway in the company, even in the case of a vote.

He recalled that up to a few years ago, the registration of a new company called for at least two shareholders, even three, but later amendments to the Partnerships Act had changed that. There was really no hard and fast rule, and it was still the practice to have a nominal shareholding if one so desired.

Dr Herrera said what the government had done could not be taken to imply bad faith.

Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil said this did not justify what the government had done, because the shares belonged to the people and not the government.