Updated, adds Prime Minister's reaction - Former parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon has been employed with a State corporation after resigning political office last January in the wake of the Gaffarena scandal.
Dr Falzon yesterday confirmed he was employed on a full-time basis with the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, a State entity. However, he did not take kindly to this newspaper’s questions, describing them “insulting and unthinkable”.
When it was pointed out that his terms of employment are in the public interest, given that the GHRC is a State entity, Dr Falzon insisted he had every right to work like anybody else.
“I am working because I have a family like you do and others do. If the Times of Malta is going to feed my family, good luck to you. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
“I confirm [that I am employed with GHRC]. You should be ashamed,” Dr Falzon said.
Questions sent to GHRC chairman Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi about the matter had not been answered at the time of writing.
Dr Falzon had the option of returning to his former job at Bank of Valletta’s legal office after resigning. This would have meant reimbursing the bank part of the €260,000 early retirement payment he received when becoming parliamentary secretary in 2014. He had benefited from an “ad hoc” arrangement made with him by the bank that also included the option to return by the end of this legislature.
I thought you called me to tell me something about the obscenities that are coming out on the National Audit Office and not whether I can work
But the former parliamentary secretary went on a rant yesterday when contacted by this newspaper. “Is there anything wrong in working? Does this mean that one cannot work if he is an MP? I thought you called me to tell me something about the obscenities that are coming out on the National Audit Office and not whether I can work. Aren’t you ashamed?” Dr Falzon said.
The reference to obscenities is possibly to a photograph that appeared recently on the blog of Glenn Bedingfield, an aide to the Prime Minister, of an employee at the NAO with Opposition spokesman Jason Azzopardi in Brussels, where they went to watch the final of the Europa League. Dr Falzon has asked the NAO to investigate its employee’s behaviour.
Dr Falzon resigned six months ago after a report from the Auditor General was published into the expropriation of half a building in Valletta. The National Audit Office started investigating after this newspaper uncovered the deals entered into between the Land Department and businessman Mark Gaffarena.
The NAO’s damning report confirmed the shady deals that saw Mr Gaffarena net €3.4 million in land and cash for half a property worth €944,000.
The Audit Office also found that Mr Gaffarena had colluded with Land Department officials and Dr Falzon.
The former parliamentary secretary denied wrongdoing and accused the National Audit Office of “vindictiveness”, saying the report was “nasty”.
He also accused the NAO’s chief investigating officer of being “politically motivated”.
Dr Falzon appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee last month and again alleged political interference within the NAO. He accused it of going too easy on the Land Department’s external architect, Joseph Spiteri, who was responsible for the land valuations.
Auditor General Charles Deguara vehemently denied Dr Falzon’s claims, noting that the investigation had dedicated an entire chapter to its criticism of Mr Spiteri’s valuations.
PRIME MINISTER'S REACTION
Reacting, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning said there had been nothing irregular about Dr Falzon engagement at the GHRC.
He had been employed using the same methods used during the previous legislature, he said.
Dr Muscat did not reply when asked what Dr Falzon’s pay packet at the corporation is.